The soil under your feet is still teeming with life, even in the frozen temperatures of winter. Soil is essential to life. One reason is that soil protects plant roots, animals, and microbes from freezing in the winter. As air temperatures drop below 32° F, water...
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
DNR News Release: PFAs Grant
New PFAs Grant Program for Small Public Water Systems Opens in 2024 https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/86001 The WDNR has announced the opening of a new grant program in 2024 that will help Other-Than-Municipal Community and nonprofit, Non-Transient...
Climate Change
Last week, I wrote that Lake Metonga had finally froze up. Well, this past week, there was a fishing boat out on the lake. They must have been catching fish because they were there most of the afternoon into the early evening. This event made me think of how...
Ice Safety
I noticed this morning that Lake Metonga finally froze over. Soon, we’ll be back out on our Northwoods lakes to begin the Hardwater Season. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges the public to practice ice safety on all of Wisconsin’s waterbodies as...
How Many Trees Are There?
It is an age-old question; how many trees are there? In recent years some have asked, Are there more trees on earth than stars in the Milky Way? NASA estimates that the Milky Way has approximately 100 billion stars. So let’s see how trees stack up. In the United...
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Our neighbors to the East in Michigan have reported an outbreak of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. These insects are considered invasive because they are not native to the state and can cause significant harm to Michigan’s estimated 170 million hemlock trees. As they feed,...
Ring-Necked Pheasant
In previous articles, I talked about the Japanese beetle, an exotic invasive that is eating gardens across the Northwoods. Of course, there are many more exotic invasive plants and animals in Wisconsin including the Eurasian Watermilfoil, Common Buckthorn, Garlic...
Pruning Oak Trees in Winter: A Crucial Step to Preventing Oak Wilt
Oak trees are not only majestic additions to landscapes but also play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity. However, these iconic trees face a significant threat known as oak wilt, a deadly disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum. Once infected, the...
White Tails & Deer Ticks
I recently read an article in Field Notes, newsletter of the Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study. In the article, researchers continue to look for ways that CWD spreads through a population. Dr. Inzalaco, at UW-Madison realized that one of the most common...
Invasive Species Could Reap Benefits From Extreme Weather
According to a new study I read, extreme weather might be wreaking havoc across the globe, but some non-native plants and animals could be benefiting from the disasters, adding risk to already threatened local species. Researchers have found Invasive species often...
The Key to a Successful Hunting Season: Prioritizing Safety in Wisconsin
Every year, thousands of hunters take to the woods and fields, hoping to fill their tags with the trophy buck or wild turkey they’ve been dreaming of. However, a successful hunting season in Wisconsin isn’t just about bringing home game; it’s also...
Bat Week
Halloween is this week, and it’s also Bat Week. This is a national annual event that showcases the importance of bats in our ecosystem and the need for their conservation. This week-long celebration highlights the unique role these creatures play in maintaining the...