Disappearing Grosbeaks

The other morning, I was having my coffee and watching the birds on our feeders.  I got to thinking that I hadn’t seen evening grosbreaks on our feeders in like, forever!  So, when I got to my office, I decided to do a little research and find out where...

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

Last week I received the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) 2021 Assessment Report. I’ll try to summarize what the report means for us in Northern Wisconsin. We are already feeling the impact of climate change. We are fortunately starting to come...

Spotted Lanternfly Alert

The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species native to Asia. In 2014 it was found in Pennsylvania and has since spread to multiple counties which are now quarantined. If you see a spotted lanternfly, kill it, squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall,...

Land Management Plans

Why do you need a land management plan? They are the key to the successful management of your forest. Land management plans are long-term and provide continuity through generations of ownership. Make sure to go over your plan with family members that may be purchasing...

Surface Water Grants Program

Landowners, have you considered adding a rain garden or native plants to your shoreline?  By stopping run-off from entering your lake or river, you can protect them for future generations.  A rain garden or native planting can provide beautiful flowers all...

European Frog-bit

Earlier this summer, botanists discovered a population of the wetland invasive plant European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus‐ranae) in Oconto County. This is the first time this species, which is widespread along the coastal areas of lakes Erie and Huron up to the...

PFAS Coordinating Council

In 2019, Governor Tony Evers declared it the Year of Clean Drinking Water.  As part of the state-wide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #40 in August 2019 to address the issue of...

Purple Loosestrife control

This week we finished mapping the county roads for Wild Parsnip and Purple Loosestrife locations.  We noted that the Wild Parsnip has bolted (flowered and gone to seed) and is pretty much done causing problems for the year.  Next spring, we will begin...

Wisconsin Caterpillars

Every summer at my household, my wife collects milkweed and monarch butterfly eggs.  She’ll put the milkweed and eggs in a large terrarium and then has her daycare monitor their growth and transformation from caterpillars to butterflies.  She usually is able...

Blue-green algae

Blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that many people refer to as "pond scum." Blue-green algae are most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green, reddish-purple, or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow...