Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control grants help urban areas develop wildlife plans, implement specific damage abatement and/or control measures for white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese. They are available to any town, city, village, county or tribal government in an urban area. This grant provides a 50% cost share up to $5,000 for eligible costs. The application deadline is Dec. 1, 2024. Continue reading “DNR Deer And Geese Damage Abatement And Control Grants Now Open”
Urban Forestry News
Improving Employee Well-being With Exposure To Trees And Nature
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
Employee attitudes and well-being improve with exposure to nature. Think about it. Every weekday we commute to work, only to be met by a dark cubicle in shades of beige and grey. Ever wonder why your mood starts to match the walls? It’s because the workplace environment contributes to employee health. We’ve known this to be true (anecdotally) for a long time, but mounting scientific evidence proves our urban and community forests have beneficial effects on employee performance. Continue reading “Improving Employee Well-being With Exposure To Trees And Nature”
DNR Announces Recipients Of Wisconsin Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants
By Nicolle R. Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grants Manager; Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the recipients of the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants to assist with damage sustained during statewide extreme storm events that took place June 21-25, 2024. Continue reading “DNR Announces Recipients Of Wisconsin Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants”
Sampling Trees On Milwaukee Public School Campuses
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
The trees on school properties mirror those of the surrounding urban forest in composition but not in coverage.
That is one initial takeaway from an i-Tree Eco project on Milwaukee Public School (MPS) properties conducted by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry interns Priscilla Loh and Taylor Colman this summer. Continue reading “Sampling Trees On Milwaukee Public School Campuses”
Upcoming Trainings
*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and does not constitute an endorsement from the WI DNR.
See below for information on arborist safety, tree biology and US Forest Service recorded webinars. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings”
Take In Wisconsin’s Beautiful Bounty Of Fall Colors
Fall colors set a trail at Sheboygan’s Kohler-Andrae State Park ablaze in 2021. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Forest Health Outreach and Communications,
Fitchburg; Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov, 608-335-0167
Once again, it’s time for nature’s majestic paintbrush to spread its magic across Wisconsin.
Many of the state’s trees have begun to show off their amazing fall colors, brightening the view for state residents and visitors everywhere – from the restful resplendence of our urban areas and state properties to the drive-by dazzlement of our tree-lined country roads.
“It’s a brilliant and colorful display,” said Scott Lyon, leader of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products team. “The Badger State is home to many deciduous hardwood species which change colors and lose their leaves as the seasons change, including maple, oaks, hickories and aspen.”
Continue reading “Take In Wisconsin’s Beautiful Bounty Of Fall Colors”
Fall Means Hunting — For Spongy Moth Egg Masses
Each egg mass laid by a spongy moth carries 300 or more eggs. Caterpillars will emerge in spring. Egg masses can be removed with care during fall and winter months to prevent the emergence of caterpillars. Photo Credit: / Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging property owners to seek out and dispose of spongy moth egg masses, which were produced by adult moths during the summer.
Each spongy moth egg mass contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch into hungry, leaf-eating caterpillars in the coming spring. Large numbers of these invasive caterpillars can be a tremendous nuisance that may cause tree mortality.
Continue reading “Fall Means Hunting — For Spongy Moth Egg Masses”
Time Is Right For Oak Tree Work
Flail mowers can make work easier and more productive for town crews, but the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources urges workers and managers to save any work that could damage oak trees for fall and winter, when the risk of the fungal disease oak wilt is minimal. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
Do you know of a state, county, municipal or private crew that has been itching to do some work involving oak trees? Or are you a landowner itching to do some oak pruning or cutting?
Well, the time has arrived for smart and safe work on oaks.
It’s important for crews and managers to know that any damage done to oak trees from April 1 through at least mid-July — many say into September — could lead to a quick death for that tree. Frequently, one tree’s infection will also lead to eventual mortality for neighboring oaks.
Cottony Ash Psyllid Challenging Black Ash
Adult psyllids are quite small and can blend in with their surroundings. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff;
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
Have you noticed black ash trees that have tightly curled leaves in scattered clumps, with lots of bare areas on the branches?
The problem might be cottony ash psyllid (Psyllopsis discrepans), a tiny, sap-sucking insect that has been in North America for almost 100 years but was first identified in Wisconsin in 2006. Its presence was reconfirmed in 2023, when it was found in several additional counties around the state. Since then, it has been identified in even more counties.
Continue reading “Cottony Ash Psyllid Challenging Black Ash”
CISMAs Offer Invasive Plants Events
A map of the current Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) in Wisconsin. / Map Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Erika Segerson-Mueller, DNR Invasive Plant Program Specialist, Oshkosh Service Center;
Erika.SegersonMueller@wisconsin.gov or 715-492-0391
When it comes to fighting invasive plants, Wisconsin’s Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAs) are often the first line of defense (and offense).
These regional groups provide a localized resource for landowners looking for invasive plant education, identification support and assistance with controlling invasives on their properties.
With 13 CISMAs operating throughout Wisconsin, these groups accomplish a lot each year. CISMA efforts range from fieldwork outings and landowner education workshops to tool-share programs and day-long, control-based field trips.