Jay Dampier joined the Urban Forestry Team on June 3 as the new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant coordinator. This is a federally funded project position that will be overseeing $4 million of federally funded grants awarded to Wisconsin communities, tribes and nonprofits. These IRA funds were allocated to the urban forestry program by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service in 2023. As part of the Justice 40 Initiative, 100% of the funds will be used to improve the urban forest resources and lives of those living in disadvantaged communities throughout the state. Continue reading “Urban Forestry Welcomes Jay Dampier As New IRA Grant Coordinator”
Technical assistance
Upcoming Changes To Three Urban Forestry Regions
The boundaries of the Northeast, East Central and North Central DNR Urban Forestry regions will be altered at the end of April to balance workload across the regions better. The changes are:
- Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Green Lake counties are moving from the Northeast to the East Central region.
- Waushara and Marquette counties are moving from the Northeast to the North Central region.
- Forest and Florence counties are moving from the North Central to the Northeast region.
The map included below reflects these changes and will be available on the Urban Forestry Contacts webpage after the changes take effect.
Continue reading “Upcoming Changes To Three Urban Forestry Regions”
UW–Extension Ready To Handle Questions On Yard Trees
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Forest Health Communications and Outreach, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
A screenshot of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension web page inviting viewers to ask a gardening question of its staff. / Graphic Credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
Now that spring has sprung, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staffers can expect questions from the public about their yard trees.
However, the mission of DNR Foresters and Forest Health staff is geared toward focusing on larger, forested areas, not yard trees. Those questions fall under the purview of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension Horticulture Program.
Continue reading “UW–Extension Ready To Handle Questions On Yard Trees”
Make Your 2024 Spongy Moth Treatment Plans Early
A finger points to a tan-colored spongy moth egg mass on a tree. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
If the 2024 spring and summer weather conditions are favorable for the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) population, the current outbreak will continue and spread to other parts of Wisconsin. Property owners are encouraged to examine susceptible host trees (including oak, birch, crabapple, aspen and willow) and make plans to manage them.
In summer 2023, Wisconsin saw a record amount of defoliation. State agencies received many calls from property owners urgently seeking a tree care business to control a large caterpillar infestation.
Continue reading “Make Your 2024 Spongy Moth Treatment Plans Early”
Harvest Timing Affected By Spongy Moth
Numerous spongy moth egg masses on an oak tree in Walworth County. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
Forest managers planning silvicultural treatments in stands susceptible to spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) – such as those containing many host species, including oak, birch, aspen and basswood – are encouraged to conduct annual egg mass surveys before treatment.
Surveys make it possible to predict if heavy defoliation is likely. If more than 30 egg masses are found in a sample area – a circle with a 37-foot diameter – then heavy defoliation is expected in the spring, and management activities should be altered or delayed until an outbreak has ended. Continue reading “Harvest Timing Affected By Spongy Moth”
Look For Spongy Moss Egg Masses
Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
Three spongy moth egg masses are found on a tree branch at Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit in Walworth County. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
Now that spongy moth egg laying is complete for 2023, it’s a good time to look for and dispose of the egg masses produced by adult moths over the past two months.
Spongy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter, and can be found on trees, buildings and other outdoor objects. They may also be found in protected places such as firewood piles and birdhouses.
Make Plans To Control Spongy Moth Before The Eggs Hatch
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh, Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
Spongy moth (formerly known as gypsy moth) egg masses typically begin to hatch in April as temperatures warm. Each mass that hatches may produce up to 1,000 leaf-eating caterpillars.
Now is a great time to inspect your trees for egg masses and treat or remove any masses within reach. Wisconsin weather has been favorable for this pest over the last three years and populations have grown.
Three spongy moth egg masses on the underside of a pine branch in Walworth County. Photo: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR.
Continue reading “Make Plans To Control Spongy Moth Before The Eggs Hatch”
Make Your 2023 Spongy Moth Treatment Plans Early
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
bill.mcnee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
As long as weather conditions are favorable for the spongy moth* (formerly known as gypsy moth) population, the current outbreak is predicted to continue and spread to other parts of Wisconsin in 2023. Property owners are encouraged to examine susceptible host trees (including oak, birch, crabapple, aspen and willow) and plan ahead.
Spongy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps that are larger than a penny, about the size of a nickel or quarter. Photo: Wisconsin DNR
Continue reading “Make Your 2023 Spongy Moth Treatment Plans Early”
Harvest Timing Affected By Spongy Moth
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
bill.mcnee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
Numerous spongy moth egg masses on a bur oak in southern Waukesha County, November 2022. Photo: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR.
Forest managers planning silvicultural treatments in spongy moth susceptible stands (containing a large proportion of host species including oak, birch, aspen and basswood) are encouraged to annually conduct egg mass surveys in the few years prior to the scheduled treatment to predict if heavy defoliation is likely. The results may indicate that management activities should be altered or delayed until an outbreak has ended. At present, stands that were heavily defoliated in 2022 or are predicted to be heavily defoliated in 2023 are most likely to need a management delay or alteration.
It is recommended that a time interval be left between a stress agent (such as heavy defoliation or significant drought) and stand thinning so that the trees can recover from pre-existing stress before being subjected to additional stress. One growing season is a common interval for healthy stands that are not being subjected to drought or other stresses. A longer interval is suggested if the tree stress has been more severe or if the stand was not healthy and vigorously growing at the time of defoliation. The same interval is probably appropriate regardless of which stress agent is the pre-existing one. A protective aerial spray may prevent tree stress from defoliation but is usually not economically viable due to the high cost of an aerial treatment.
Look For Spongy Moth Egg Masses – Larger Outbreak Possible in 2023
By: Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
bill.mcnee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
Three spongy moth egg masses on a branch in Walworth County. Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
Now that spongy moth* (formerly known as gypsy moth) egg laying is complete for 2022, it’s a good time to look for and dispose of egg masses produced by adult moths over the past two months.
Spongy moth egg masses are tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter, and are found on trees, buildings and other outdoor objects. They may also be found in protected places such as firewood piles and birdhouses. Newly produced egg masses will feel firm and appear darker in color than older egg masses, which appear faded, feel spongy and do not contain viable eggs. The current-year egg masses will not hatch until next spring.
In 2022, Wisconsin’s spongy moth population grew for a third consecutive summer due to favorable weather conditions and limited caterpillar mortality from diseases. The outbreak was most dramatic in opposite ends of the state. In southern and southeast Wisconsin, several thousand oak-dominated acres were heavily defoliated and very large numbers of property owner reports were received by DNR staff. In Bayfield County, about 80,000 acres of rural defoliation was reported from aspen-dominated forests. Smaller patches of defoliation were also reported from several other counties. Continue reading “Look For Spongy Moth Egg Masses – Larger Outbreak Possible in 2023”