Woodland owners

Make Plans Now To Fight Spongy Moth In 2025

Posted on by akabelowsky
A photo showing large egg masses on a tree at the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit in 2021.

Large egg masses are seen on a tree at the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit in 2021. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942

Part Two of a report on spongy moth in Wisconsin in 2024 and 2025. Part One was published in December.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging property owners to examine their property for spongy moth egg masses and plan for action this spring if needed. Each spongy moth egg mass contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch into hungry, leaf-eating caterpillars this spring. Large numbers of these invasive caterpillars can be a tremendous nuisance that may cause tree mortality.

Continue reading “Make Plans Now To Fight Spongy Moth In 2025” →

Tree Disease Maps Have Migrated

Posted on by akabelowsky
The Wisconsin web map for Heterobasidion root disease, available through ArcGIS Online.

The Wisconsin web map for Heterobasidion root disease, available through ArcGIS Online. / Map Credit: Paul Cigan, Wisconsin DNR

By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Hayward
Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Health program hosts two interactive web maps on its webpage:

Heterobasidion Root Disease

Oak Wilt Seasonal Harvesting Opportunities

Continue reading “Tree Disease Maps Have Migrated” →

McNee To Speak At Green Bay Conference

Posted on by akabelowsky
Photo showing a few periodical cicadas trying to hitch a ride on the T-shirt of Bill McNee, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Health specialist for northeast Wisconsin, in 2024 at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva.

A few periodical cicadas try to hitch a ride on the T-shirt of Bill McNee, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist for northeast Wisconsin, at Big Foot Beach State Park in Lake Geneva in 2024. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

Bill McNee, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forest health specialist for the Southeast region, will give a public presentation on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Green Bay Winter Landowner Conference.

Continue reading “McNee To Speak At Green Bay Conference” →

Please Submit Trees Planted This Year!

Posted on by janness

By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578

Autumn is a wonderful time for planting trees. And after the trees go in the ground, please take a few minutes to document the effort in the Wisconsin Tree Planting Map. The map was designed to help track trees planted to advance the state’s pledge to the Trillion Trees Initiative.

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2024 Spongy Moth Review

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942

A tree shows high numbers of spongy moth caterpillars, though the majority of the caterpillars have been killed either by virus (hanging in an inverted V) or fungus (hanging in a stretched line, head down). The virus and fungus helped to quell a potential outbreak in many areas of the state in 2024.

A tree shows high numbers of spongy moth caterpillars, though the majority of the caterpillars have been killed either by virus (hanging in an inverted V) or fungus (hanging in a stretched line, head down). The virus and fungus helped to quell a potential outbreak in many areas of the state in 2024. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR

As the 2023 spongy moth season ended, there were hopes for a return to colder and wetter conditions in 2024 so that the spongy moth outbreak would decline or even come to an end.

What wound up happening in Wisconsin was the “lost winter,” the warmest since recordkeeping began in 1895. Given this warmth, there were concerns that the widespread spongy moth outbreak would continue for a third consecutive summer, with good caterpillar survival, ongoing defoliation and high rates of tree mortality in already stressed forests.

Continue reading “2024 Spongy Moth Review” →

Cooperative Enlists Public To Make Tree Health A Snap

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg;
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

Screenshot of the main page of the TreeSnap app as seen on a mobile phone.

The main page of the TreeSnap app as seen on a mobile phone. / Photo Credit: TreeSnap.org

It takes more than a village to foster healthy forests. More than a township, a city and a county, too. Sometimes, even more than a state.

That’s why the Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Cooperative (GLB FHC) was formed four years ago by Holden Arboretum in Ohio and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Geographically, the group’s region encompasses an area from New Jersey to Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is an active member.

Continue reading “Cooperative Enlists Public To Make Tree Health A Snap” →

Forest Health and Climate Change Resources

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Carmen Hardin, Director, DNR Applied Forestry Bureau, Rhinelander;
Carmen.Hardin@wisconsin.gov

A graphic shows changing tornado risk trends in the United States from 1980 to 2020. All Wisconsin counties are showing an increase in tornado days.

A graphic shows changing tornado risk trends in the United States from 1980 to 2020. All Wisconsin counties are showing an increase in tornado days. / Map Credit: Inside Climate News, Stephen M. Strader et. al., Nature Magazine

We are often asked difficult questions about our forests, their health and how climate change is impacting them. Here is a curated collection of resources that may help you answer some of those questions. Continue reading “Forest Health and Climate Change Resources” →

Winter Squirrel Damage Killing Maple Branches

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Two photos show maple branches that died recently due to previous damage from squirrels.

Two photos show maple branches that died recently due to previous damage from squirrels. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

Have you noticed maple branches suddenly dying this summer?

Sudden mortality of maple branches during the summer in northern Wisconsin is often a result of squirrel damage that occurred in late winter and early spring.

In late winter and early spring, gray squirrels strip the bark of maples to get at the sweet maple sap. When the damage is extensive or severe, entire trees or branches will be killed immediately and will not leaf out in the spring.

Continue reading “Winter Squirrel Damage Killing Maple Branches” →

Japanese Beetles Finding New Locations

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

A closeup photo of Japanese beetles defoliating basswood leaves. The invasive pest is becoming more prevalent in northern Wisconsin.

A closeup photo of Japanese beetles defoliating basswood leaves. The invasive pest is becoming more prevalent in northern Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR

The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is an invasive insect that feeds on many plant species. The pests “skeletonize” leaves by eating the material between the veins.

Adult Japanese beetles feed on the flowers and leaves of more than 300 plant species, including trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. Forest trees can be defoliated, with open-grown or edge trees suffering the highest defoliation rates.

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Jack Pine Budworm Outbreak Subsides

Posted on by akabelowsky

By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Hayward
Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920

Aerial view of jack pine budworm defoliation in jack pine stands in Douglas County during the 2023 outbreak. / Photo Credit: Paul Cigan, Wisconsin DNR

Jack pine defoliation caused by the jack pine budworm (JPBW) continued at mostly light levels this year, affecting stands in the Central and Northwest Sands Ecological Regions of Wisconsin.

In the Northwest Sands, jack pine stands experienced light and scattered defoliation across Burnett, Douglas, Polk and Washburn counties. In the Central Sands, JPBW caused moderate to heavy defoliation across roughly 500 acres of jack pine on county and state forests in Jackson County, east of Black River Falls.

Continue reading “Jack Pine Budworm Outbreak Subsides” →