By Carter Hellenbrand, DNR Invasive Plant Field Specialist, Fitchburg
Carter.Hellenbrand@Wisconsin.gov
Note: This is the second installment in the Forest Health News “Invasives Spotlight” series, a monthly series of Forest Health News articles.
Monarch butterflies are dependent on native milkweed for survival. But did you know there are invasive plants within the milkweed family that negatively impact this relationship?
Continue reading “Invasives Spotlight: Black and Pale Swallow-wort”
By Wisconsin DNR
With 145 invasive plants regulated under Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule NR40, it can be challenging to identify some of these plants while out in the woods.
The task can be further complicated by the presence of native lookalikes — plants that have a similar appearance to harmful invasive species, but are native plants that benefit wildlife, pollinators and ecosystems in Wisconsin.
Continue reading “Invasives And Imposters: Native Look-Alikes To Know”
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
With recent storms passing through Wisconsin, communities may still be working on clean-up. Depending on the intensity of the storms and the condition of the trees, damage from high winds, heavy rainfall, hail and lightning can be quite severe. Cracked or broken branches, trunk damage and root failure are some of the main concerns, but also the risk and liability of damage to people and property.
Did your community experience damage from the storms that passed through the state recently? The list below contains resources individuals and communities may find useful. Feel free to include any of these links on your website or in social media posts. Continue reading “Resources For Storm-Damaged Trees”
The updated map of spongy moth quarantined counties in Wisconsin, showing the April 15 addition of Green and Sawyer counties to the quarantined list. / Map Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Wisconsin DNR
Green and Sawyer counties have become the latest additions to Wisconsin’s spongy moth quarantine, joining most eastern and central Wisconsin counties already considered to be infested by the invasive insect.
The announcement was made April 15 by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), based on trapping data collected last year.
Continue reading “Green, Sawyer Counties Added To Spongy Moth Quarantine”
A bag of Tim-bor Professional, a borate-based chemical that fights Heterobasidion root disease. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Kyoko Scanlon, Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov
People who have been dealing with Heterobasidion Root Disease (HRD) may be familiar with the product name “Cellu-Treat®.” It has been used to treat fresh cut stumps to prevent HRD.
But Cellu-Treat® is not the only chemical available for HRD. Another borate-based chemical, Tim-bor® Professional, can also be used legally for the same purpose in Wisconsin. Both products are manufactured by Nisus Corporation, and their labels are almost identical (Cellu-Treat label, Tim-bor label).
Continue reading “Fungicide For HRD Stump Treatment Available In Smaller Size”
A 3-D printed trap used to collect hemlock woolly adelgid DNA. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Invasive Forest Pest Coordinator, Fitchburg
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov or 608-513-7690
This spring, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is collaborating with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to set traps to detect the invasive insect hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA).
The project, funded by the Wisconsin Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, calls for traps to be set to detect the invasive insect. No detection of HWA has been made to date in Wisconsin forests. Continue reading “Cooperative Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Trapping Effort Begins”
An adult deer tick looks for a spot to attach. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Fitchburg
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov
Adult blacklegged (deer) ticks are already active this year, as of March 2026. The adults start looking for a host as soon as it warms up to around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Wisconsin, between 20-60 percent of adult ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. However, the risk of getting Lyme disease is higher with bites from nymphal ticks, which are most abundant in June and July, because they are so tiny and difficult to find. While only 10-28 percent of nymphs are infected with the Lyme disease bacteria in Wisconsin, rapid removal of a tick can reduce the risk of infection because it takes at least 24 hours for the Lyme bacteria to spread.
A self-service firewood point of sale at Mirror Lake State Park in Sauk County. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
With camping season about to enter full swing, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges campers to think twice before giving invasive species or harmful hitchhikers a ride in their firewood.
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and campfires are a Wisconsin summer staple. And campers should know it’s a big help to the state’s trees when they help to prevent the spread of invasive pests by making smart firewood choices.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (second from right) joins educators working with the Lodi School Forest during a tree planting event on Arbor Day 2026.
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Forest Health Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov; 608-335-0167
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers didn’t have to go out on a limb to make this announcement.
By issuing a Governor’s Proclamation last month, Gov. Evers has shined a spotlight on Wisconsin’s 17 million acres of forestland. His announcement officially recognized Wisconsin’s participation in Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day.
Continue reading “Governor Plants Seeds Of Celebration For Wisconsin’s Forests”
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator, Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744 and Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator, Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414-294-8675
The Cover It Up project is a suite of related research projects conducted by multiple partners in Minnesota that are evaluating the ecology and management of buckthorn and other invasive plant species. Buckthorn is an invasive understory plant that was introduced to Wisconsin well over 100 years ago. It was used primarily in hedgerows, prized for its lack of pest issues and the fact it greens up early and holds its leaves well into the fall. These once desirable characteristics are also what turned this non-native into one of our state’s worst invasive species, easily outcompeting our natives, taking over Wisconsin’s forests, riparian woods, savannas, prairies, old fields, roadsides and vacant lots. Continue reading “Controlling Buckthorn With Plants”
