The Partners in Community Forestry Conference is currently seeking speaking proposals for the upcoming conference Nov. 18-19 in St. Louis. Any passionate speakers, community leaders and learners are encouraged to send a proposal submission. These speeches are an opportunity to share your expertise and passion about community forestry with others. The topics for this year’s speaker proposals include: Continue reading “Submit Proposals For Partners In Community Forestry Conference”
Best Management Practices
Upcoming Training
Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for training on urban forestry basics, tree risk fundamentals in Spanish, plant diseases and pests, invasive species, student apprenticeships, nut trees and other urban forestry resources. Continue reading “Upcoming Training”
Oak Wilt Information Updated
A University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension online tool provides users localized information about the estimated emergence status of the two most important insects that transmit oak wilt in Wisconsin. / Graphic Credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov
In 2025, oak wilt was detected for the first time in Hughes Township, Bayfield County, a northern Wisconsin location where oak wilt remains uncommon. There were no new county finds in 2025.
Based on the findings in 2025, the maps in the Oak Harvesting Guidelines To Reduce The Risk Of Introduction And Spread Of Oak Wilt (the oak wilt guidelines), oak wilt fact sheet and were updated. The maps in the oak wilt guidelines are good through the end of 2026.
Oak Wilt High Risk Period Quickly Approaches
A fungal pressure pad formed on the outside of the sapwood underneath the bark of an infected tree. The pad will create cracks in the bark, where beetles can enter and visit the pad and become covered in spores. They will then leave and move on to infect new trees through open wounds. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Alex Hornung, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Plover
Alexandra.Hornung@wisconsin.gov or 715-340-3810
It is again that time of year to pause operating in oak stands or pruning oak trees during the high-risk period for oak wilt, which begins in April. The high-risk period begins April 1 in the South, April 15 in the North, and ends in both zones on July 15.
The high-risk period is determined by when the beetles that carry the fungus that causes oak wilt have emerged for the year and when they are carrying the highest number of fungal spores. When wounds are created by logging operations or other activities that expose sapwood, the beetles carry the fungus to the wounded tree, and the disease process begins.
Continue reading “Oak Wilt High Risk Period Quickly Approaches”
Upcoming Training
* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for information on training topics and events, including shade trees, fruit trees, chainsaw certification, tree diseases and pests, pruning and public perspectives on trees. Continue reading “Upcoming Training”
Now Is Time To Seek Out Spongy Moth Egg Masses
Large egg masses are seen on a tree at the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit in 2021. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov
It certainly has been chilly in recent weeks, but spring is coming. When the weather warms up, the annual return of spongy moth caterpillars will begin.
The overall spongy moth population is currently low in Wisconsin. However, egg mass numbers may remain high enough to cause nuisance problems and heavy tree defoliation on individual trees or in small areas.
There’s a way for property owners to help keep the population down: Get out now to locate and properly dispose of spongy moth egg masses, which were produced by adult moths last summer. Each spongy moth egg mass contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch into hungry, leaf-eating caterpillars in the spring.
Continue reading “Now Is Time To Seek Out Spongy Moth Egg Masses”
When Is The Best Time To Prune Trees?
By Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414-294-8675
To best answer the titular question, I like to start by flipping the question on its head: When is the worst time to prune trees?
To answer this reworded question, we first need to acknowledge that “pruning is wounding.” Anytime you cut off a living portion of a tree, you are doing two main things:
- Removing photosynthetic material.
- Creating a potential entry point for decay.
Upcoming Trainings
* These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for information on training topics and events, including tree diseases and treatments, pest management, landscaping, career advancement, invasive species, pruning, volunteer management, new research, partnerships and developing an urban forest management plan. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings”
Repurpose Your Holiday Tree!
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
To say that working on a Christmas tree farm in high school led me into forestry would be a case of significant historical revisionism. Still, that experience swam in the same waters as reading Lord of the Rings, going on family vacations to the mountains, having a nearby municipal forest and other things that showed me that trees were the way.
Since then, I have increasingly appreciated holiday trees and other green things brought into households, not (just) in the harbinger-of-gifts way, but as reminders of life against a cold, seemingly bleak background. “Things will get better,” these green things announce. “Just wait!” Continue reading “Repurpose Your Holiday Tree!”
Upcoming Trainings
*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for information on training topics and events, including ISA certification exam preparation, plant propagation, winter tree identification, urban forest restoration, research trends and electrical hazards. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings”