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
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...
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 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...
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,...
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;...
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...
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...
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...
UPDATE: 12/30/25 Forest County Snowmobile Trails SNOWMOBILE TRAILS: Open The trails are in good conditions but as always watch your speed and stay to the right. Clubs have all been out grooming and removing branches that may have fallen with the recent...
For half a century, Lake Tides has been more than just a newsletter—it has been a bridge between science, policy, and the people who love Wisconsin’s lakes. Published by the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point’s Extension Lakes program, this quarterly publication...
Clean drinking water is something most of us take for granted, until a test result raises questions we don’t know how to answer. For the nearly one million Wisconsin residents who rely on private wells, understanding water quality reports can be confusing, technical,...
When the first bitter cold of December sweeps across Wisconsin, a familiar ritual begins. Lakes glaze over with a thin, glassy sheet, and anglers itching for the season to begin start eyeing their gear. Early ice is a cherished tradition here, but it’s about the...