Latest news with #WisconsinDepartmentofNaturalResources
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wisconsin DNR warns public to watch for tree-killing insect this summer
(WFRV) – Wisconsin officials are asking residents to stay alert for a destructive invasive insect that could arrive in the state this summer: the Asian long-horned beetle. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), though the beetle has not yet been detected in Wisconsin, it has already established itself in neighboring states, including Ohio. The insect is known to attack maple trees and other deciduous species, posing a series threat to the state's forests. Deciduous plants are trees and scrubs that shed their leaves seasonally. Fox Valley nonprofit heals PTSD with music therapy for vets Image courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR Adult Asian long-horned beetles are shiny black with white spots and measure between 1 and 1.5 inches in length. Their most destructive feature is their long, black and white banded antennae. They are typically active from July through September. Green Bay native pitches for Rockers, prepares for Division-I baseball in SEC Image courtesy of the Wisconsin DNR Anyone who suspects they've spotted one is asked to take clear, close-up photos and note the exact location. Reports should be sent to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Pest Hotline 866-440-7525 or emailed to DATCPPestHotline@ For more information or help identifying the beetle, residents can also contact their regional DNR Forest Health specialist: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin DNR: Invasive Asian longhorned beetle, what to know
The Brief The Wisconsin DNR has a heads-up about a "destructive, invasive" insect. The Asian longhorned beetle has been found in six states, including Illinois. The beetles are active from July through September. MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a heads-up for residents about a "destructive, invasive" insect that may arrive this summer: the Asian longhorned beetle. Local perspective According to the DNR, the beetle has not yet been found in Wisconsin. However, infestations have been found in six states – including Illinois. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Big picture view The beetles are native to China and the Korean Peninsula. It is believed they got to North America as stowaways in wood packing materials. They have also been found in Europe. What we know Adult beetles can reach 1.5 inches in length. They have shiny black bodies with white spots. There are black-and-white stripes on their antennae. They are active from July through September. Why you should care The Asian longhorned beetle attacks maples and other trees that lose their leaves each fall, the DNR said, such as birch, elm and poplar trees. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Asian longhorned beetle eggs are laid on the tree and, after they hatch, the larvae tunnel under the bark and into the wood. Adults emerge the next summer by chewing an exit hole through the bark. If they become established in North America, the DNR said there will be "serious environmental and economic impacts, especially to maple forests and industries that use maple products." What you can do Anyone who thinks they spotted an Asian longhorned beetle is asked to take high-quality, close-up photos and note their location as precisely as possible. The beetle can easily hide in forewood, the DNR said, so avoid moving firewood long distances. Any new and emerging insects should be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's Pest Hotline at 866-440-7523 or via email. For more information about identifying or controlling Asian longhorn beetles, contact the DNR Forest Health specialist for your part of the state. The Source FOX6 News referenced information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for this report.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Water quality improvement project to benefit Oconomowoc River watershed
Work recently wrapped up on a $500,000 construction project in Oconomowoc to improve an unnamed stream, locally known as Cottonwood Creek. The Oconomowoc Watershed Protection Program kicked off the stream restoration construction about 18 months ago, and finished on June 10, according to Erik Joost, watershed manager of OWPP. He said the work will improve the water quality of the creek, which flows into Lake Lac La Belle. "We're in Lake Country, that speaks for itself," Joost said. "Water quality has a huge influence on the community and culture in the area." Cottonwood Creek is one of three tributaries of Lac La Belle. A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream, river or lake. Lac La Belle has been designated as impaired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources due to excessive phosphorus levels. Lac La Belle is one of the 17 connected lakes in the Oconomowoc River watershed system in northern Waukesha County. The 49-mile-long system ultimately drains into the Rock River. Cottonwood Creek is plagued by high phosphorus concentration and sediment, according to Joost. Sediment is when naturally occurring particles like sand, clay and silt settle at the bottom of a body of water; it can become a source of pollution when excessive amounts enter waterways, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. High phosphorus can negatively impact water quality and flow, the EPA said, because it promotes chlorophyll in the water, causes excessive algae growth and can be fatal to aquatic life. The EPA lists sediment as the most common form of pollutant in rivers, lakes and streams. Many factors can contribute to this, including erosion from both private and public property, according to Joost. Cottonwood Creek flows through agricultural land, a golf course and a marsh before it drains into Lac La Belle. To complete the project, OWPP worked closely with Tall Pines Conservancy, which has staff with experience in working on stream restoration. Paul Meuer, land protection manager with Tall Pines Conservancy, said in a news release that the project will help keep Lac La Belle clean, healthy and vibrant. He said crews used proven ecological techniques like planting native wetland vegetation to absorb excess nutrients before they reach Lac La Belle. They also installed root wads, strong tree root systems, sometimes with the trunk of the tree still attached, along the banks to provide habitat for aquatic life and to act as a natural protection against erosion, Meuer said. Joost said the restoration efforts will work to slow down the stream's flow, block sediment and encourage sediment to settle out. Overall, Cottonwood Creek will flow with curves and bends that will reduce erosion and improve drainage, the release said. For this project, which Joost said cost roughly $500,000, OWPP worked with a municipal flood control grant program through the DNR. This grant offers a 50/50 cost share partnership. The remaining funds were donated and contributed by the Lac La Belle Management District, the City of Oconomowoc, the Town of Oconomowoc, Tall Pines Conservancy and the Village of Lac La Belle. Part of the OWPP's mission is to work closely with farmers. When Joost started as a watershed manager with the OWPP two years ago, one of the first farmers he met told him about the erosion he had noticed on Cottonwood Creek and asked for some help. Shortly after, OWPP started looking into different options, talking to stream engineers and identifying grants they could go after for the restoration, Joost said. Six months later, OWPP was approved for the grant. They then moved into the permitting and design process, and construction has taken place for the past 18 months. OWPP's mission is to work in partnership to protect and improve water quality in the Oconomowoc River watershed. "I grew up fishing these lakes and rivers, and I love the waters of Lake Country," Joost said. "I recreate on them, I appreciate them for just how pristine they generally are. It's a resource that's not commonly found. It's just a special area." Liliana Fannin is a 2025 summer intern at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covering the Milwaukee suburbs. Have a tip? She can be contacted at lfannin@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Oconomowoc stream restoration project completed on June 10
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Watch raccoon jump off moving truck, roll onto Wisconsin highway
Watch raccoon jump off moving truck, roll onto Wisconsin highway Mission impossible? Not for this raccoon who gave Tom Cruise a run for his money. The animal defied gravity as it took a big leap of faith, jumping from the back of a moving truck onto a highway in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Video footage from the incident shows the wild animal frantically scurrying around the edge of the moving dumpster before taking one last look and leaping onto the highway. As it lands on the road, the raccoon rolls over several times and presumably ends up on the green belt along the highway. What raccoon fly out of moving truck, onto Wisconsin highway Courageous raccoon performs 'Mission Impossible'-like move A driver recorded a raccoon leaping from a moving truck and rolling off the highway in Milwaukee. Witness describes raccoon's highway adventure Wyatt Sanders and his coworker were driving back to their workplace on June 5 when they "noticed something moving around at the top of the dumpster," he told USA TODAY over email. "I then saw a tail and soon the face of a raccoon… he was very frantic running to all edges of the dumpster," Sanders said. Sanders' coworker immediately took his phone out and started recording just as "the little guy looked a couple last times before jumping off the truck," which was moving at a speed of about 50 mph, according to Sanders. The raccoon rolled over a few times as he landed on the ground, but fortunately survived, Sanders said, adding he had to "slam on the brakes" to avoid hitting the animal, which was dangerously close to his vehicle. Are raccoons common in Wisconsin? Raccoons are common furbearers in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The animals can live almost anywhere and will eat almost anything, which is why they thrive in urban areas where they have plenty of access to human-supplied sources of food. However, they can be a nuisance, and residents are advised to take proactive measures to keep raccoons away from their homes as they can carry diseases that can affect human and/or pet health, the department said. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Air quality alert issued for Outagamie County
An air quality alert was issued by the National Weather Service in Green Bay at 03:42 a.m. on Thursday, June 12. This warning applies to Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence, Northern Marinette, Lincoln, Langlade, Menominee, Northern Oconto, Door, Marathon, Shawano, Wood, Portage, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown, Kewaunee, Waushara, Winnebago, Calumet, Manitowoc, Southern Marinette and Southern Oconto counties. The NWS warns: "Sensitive groups: Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It is OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma: Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick relief medicine handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider. Additional Details: Canadian wildfire smoke has mixed down to the surface, leading to enhanced p.m.2.5 concentrations. For more information on current air quality, please see: At 3:42 a.m., the NWS issued a statement including the following information: "The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the following counties: Brown, Calumet, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood. WHAT: The p.m.2.5 AQI is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level. WHERE: Northern and eastern Wisconsin. WHEN: Until 3 p.m." Air quality alerts are issued when elevated levels of pollutants in the air make it unsafe to be outside. In Wisconsin, Canadian wildfire smoke has often led to poor air quality. Particles from wildfire smoke can cause minor symptoms, such as mild eye or throat irritation, or more serious heart and lung issues in some cases, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources . Wildfire smoke particles, which are called p.m.2.5, are especially dangerous for children, older adults, pregnant people and those with heart or respiratory conditions. The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency . Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself from poor air quality, including wildfire smoke, according to the Wisconsin DNR: Keep windows and doors closed. Use an indoor air purifier. Run your AC on recirculate with a high-efficiency air filter. Avoid activities that can increase indoor pollution, like vacuuming, using candles, frying foods or using gas appliances. Use a damp cloth to trap and clean up dust, instead of a dry cloth or duster, which will only make the dust airborne again. If you must go outside, wear a N95 mask. The DNR has interactive air quality maps, which show the AQI and any active alerts or advisories by county. You can view them on the department's website , or you can also type in your ZIP code into the website to view air quality in your area. This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor. See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Air quality alert issued for Outagamie County
