As spring approaches many of us will get out to start our Maple Syrup operations. Wisconsin is ranked third in the nation for Maple Syrup production, trailing Vermont and New York. Our state produced 556,000 gallons in 2025, up 98,000 gallons from 2024, according to...
Conservation Corner
Conservation Corner is a weekly article produced by the Forest County Land & Water Conservation Department.
For more information contact Kayla Littleton, County Conservationist-Land Information/GIS Director at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at
Native plant sale reminder
The Forest County native plant sale is in full swing. With there being just under 3 weeks left to order, there is still time for you to get your native plants! Native plants are a great way to attract birds butterflies, and bees to your property. They can also help to...
Snow Fleas
Winter landscapes often seem still and lifeless, with most insects hidden away until spring. Yet, on certain sunny days, you might notice the snow peppered with tiny black specks that suddenly leap into the air. These are snow...
Vilas and Oneida Counties awarded over $1 mil in DNR surface water grants
This story is courtesy of the Vilas County News Review. Vilas and Oneida counties have received more than $1.1 million in grant funding to help combat, prevent and study aquatic invasive species (AIS) in local waterbodies. The funding comes as part of Wisconsin DNR’s...
WI DNR Reforestation Program
For more than a century, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been at the forefront of reforestation efforts, supplying landowners with the seedlings needed to restore and sustain the state’s forests. Since the program’s inception in 1911, the DNR...
Announcing the 2026 Forest County Land Conservation Native Plant Sale
Once again, we are going to have our Annual Native Plant Sale! Native plants are a great way to attract birds, butterflies, and bees to your property. They can also help to stop erosion and sediment loss on shorelines. Consider planting native plants this summer...
Late ice fishing season
Late ice fishing season can be both exciting and frustrating. On one hand, the days are longer, the sun in warmer, and the ice often feels safer to travel on than in the unpredictable early season. On the other hand, many anglers notice a trend that the fish don’t...
Local Conservation Poster Contest Winners
The theme for the 2026 Conservation Poster Contest this year was “Soil, where it all begins”. The poster contest was open to kindergarten through 12th grade students, and posters were evaluated on the following criteria: conservation message, visual effectiveness,...
Why Do Bucks Shed Their Antlers
Every winter, something remarkable happens in the deer world: male bucks drop their antlers. To the casual observer, this might seem strange that an animal would give up such an impressive and seemingly useful weapon. Yet, antler shedding is not a sign of weakness;...
Frost Cracks
Winter can be a season of beauty, but for trees, it can also be a time of hidden stress. One of the most dramatic, and sometimes startling winter occurrences is frost cracks. This is a sudden split in a tree’s trunk that can make loud noises. While the term “exploding...
What happens to soil in winter
When winter arrives, the world above ground slows down. Trees stand bare, fields lie dormant, and snow blankets the landscape. But beneath that frozen surface, the soil is far from lifeless. In fact, winter sets in motion a series of physical, chemical, and biological...
WI Salt Awareness Week
Every winter, Wisconsin’s roads transform into icy ribbons that challenge drivers and road crews alike. The go-to solution for decades has been road salt because its simple, effective, and cheap. But beneath its convenience lies a growing environmental cost. WI Salt...











