Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine | Summer 2025

Wisconsin’s general inland fishing season opened on May 3, but creatures like this osprey don’t need a license to grab a bite of lunch.

We’re excited about our new Caption This feature — the first installment in the spring issue yielded many fun replies (see inside back cover). Here’s another image awaiting your input.

Please send your short, clever captions for this beautiful bird of prey, photographed by Harold W. Boccheciamp near the Menasha Dam. Ospreys are seasonal visitors to Wisconsin, nesting (and fishing!) here in warmer months.

Send your captions via email to dnrmagazine@wisconsin.gov. Or jot them down and mail by Aug. 1 to:

DNR magazine PO Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707

We’ll pick some of the best suggested captions to share in the next issue.

Communications Director Andi Sedlacek

Publications Supervisor Molly Meister

Managing Editor Andrea Zani

Art Direction Douglas Griffin and Sunny Frantz

Printing Schumann Printers

Governor Tony Evers

Natural Resources Board

Bill Smith, Shell Lake, Chair

Rachel Bouressa, New London

Douglas Cox, Keshena

Deb Dassow, Cedarburg

Jeff Hastings, Westby

Patty Schachtner, Somerset Robin Schmidt, La Crosse

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Karen Hyun, Secretary

Steven Little, Deputy Secretary Mark Aquino, Assistant Deputy Secretary

FROM THE SECRETARY

School’s out, the weather is getting warmer by the week, and Wisconsin’s waters, woods and other wild spaces are calling — it’s summertime in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin summers, with their brevity, almost insist upon us taking some time to recharge, savor this special time with family and friends and simply slow down, even if only for a weekend.

It’s these moments, these pauses in the hustle and bustle of our lives, that allow us to organize our thoughts, reflect on what’s come before and plan what’s ahead.

That’s been very top-of-mind for me lately, as the coming summer will mark six months in my role as DNR secretary — although it certainly hasn’t felt like that long. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun, and while no two days have been alike, each day serving the people of Wisconsin has been an honor, a privilege and a joy.

Over the past months, I’ve traveled throughout the state, meeting with local leaders, state legislators, our tribal partners and other stakeholders, listening and learning at each stop.

I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with many of our outstanding DNR staff, like in February when I visited Havenwoods State Forest for the Winter Break Milwaukee event. I brought my oldest son along, and we learned the history of the state forest, tried fat-tire biking, talked with some of our wardens and even got to pet some sled dogs.

In March, I spoke at the Council on Forestry meeting to discuss the importance of forestry and healthy forests in the state. I also spoke at the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs Convention and Annual Meeting to thank our partners, such as the state’s snowmobile clubs and local law enforcement, who help make Wisconsin a premier destination for snowmobiling. I also attended the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation’s annual meeting, the Audubon Great Lakes’ advocacy day luncheon and the State of the Tribes Address. It’s been a great learning experience to meet with these partners who hold our natural resources to such importance.

Also in March, I had the honor to represent the agency on a national level at the Environmental Council of the States to connect with other government agencies on environmental protections.

Further into spring, I had the opportunity to visit a few of the state fish hatcheries responsible for the 5.3 million fish stocked in Wisconsin waters last year and meet with the fantastic staff that make it all happen.  I also completed a Learn to Hunt Turkey class in

Karen Hyun

Mauston — I had a great time and would strongly recommend any of our outdoor skills courses to anyone looking to learn a new outdoor hobby or take their skills to the next level.

I made it out to Mead Wildlife Area for a tour with some amazing views and many migrating birds; planted trees in Green Bay with the Oneida Nation and at Governor Nelson State Park for Earth Day; and joined the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to visit a farm in Spring Green that was named the WI Land+Water 2025 Conservation Farm Family of the Year.

Perhaps the highlight of these past few (and busy!) months has been the Governor’s Fishing Opener in Rice Lake. I loved meeting so many passionate anglers and listening to our fisheries experts discuss the many ways they work to improve fishing in Wisconsin, like our new Wisconsin Fishing Finder tool, which puts lake information, fishing regulations, stocking data and more all in one place. I caught a northern pike — after we took the bananas off the boat, of course.

SEIZE THE SUNSHINE

Here at the DNR, we’re fond of saying there truly is no offseason for outdoor fun in Wisconsin. And while that’s absolutely true, there is unquestionably something special about a Wisconsin summer.

From fishing or swimming in our thousands of miles of rivers and streams and 15,000 lakes to hiking or camping at one of our 50 state parks or 15 state forests, the opportunities are endless!

Another special aspect of the summer is the additional opportunities for family time while kids are out of school. In what Gov. Evers has declared Wisconsin’s “Year of the Kid,” there’s never been a better time to get outside, enjoy summer’s warmth and explore Wisconsin’s abundant natural resources with your children or grandchildren.

If you’re looking for family-friendly outdoor activities this summer, be sure to check out our fabulous Wisconsin State Park System, which happens to be celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Many of these properties host fun and educational events for kids and families throughout the summer — and they’re usually free! My three children and I already have a few events at parks across the state on our family calendar — we can’t wait!

No matter where your summer takes you, I hope you enjoy this issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine and can take some time to relax, unwind and reconnect with friends, family and nature.

Wishing you a happy and safe summer!

NEWS YOU CAN USE

TAP INTO DNR RESOURCES FOR SUMMERTIME FUN

What exciting outdoor activities will you be enjoying this summer? Whatever it is, chances are the DNR has great information to help you make the most of your next adventure!

Fishing: Get started fishing or learn more about angling in Wisconsin, including season dates, license information, places to fish and even all the state fish species (there are more than 160!) — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/2201.

Camping: Find details on state property campsites, remote camping, accessible cabins, camping rules and how to make reservations up to 11 months in advance — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/1551.

Hiking: State parks, forests, trails and recreation areas are perfect for this popular pastime. Use the DNR’s Find a Park tool to filter through everything there is to explore — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/801

Biking: Try a state trail for a bike outing that fits your speed (don’t forget, a state trail pass is needed for anyone age 16 or older) — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/1596

Paddling: The Wisconsin State Park System is full of canoe and kayaking opportunities, with rentals available in many places. Or check out the many designated water trails on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes and scenic rivers — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/2596.

STATE PROPERTIES ARE FIREWORKS-FREE

Fireworks might be fun to see, but don’t plan to bring them along if you’re celebrating the Fourth of July with a state park camping trip or other outing. Fireworks are not allowed on DNRmanaged lands.

Restrictions also apply to fireworks outside of state lands, and anyone using fireworks should be extremely cautious to prevent wildfires. Also be aware that the concentrated smoke and particulate matter put into the air by fireworks can have adverse health effects, particularly for children, elderly adults and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.

The safest way to enjoy fireworks, whether at home or visiting the Wisconsin State Park System, is by attending organized fireworks events in nearby communities.

ENJOY SUMMER SAFELY

The DNR urges boaters and ATV/UTV users to keep safety in mind when enjoying the outdoors this summer. One of the biggest things to remember: Stay sober.

Alcohol use is a leading factor in recreational boating fatalities and also contributes to ATV/UTV crashes. It’s illegal to operate a boat or ATV/UTV while impaired (blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher). Other important safety tips:

BOATING

y Wear a properly fitted and fastened life jacket when on or near the water.

y Be aware of your surroundings. River shorelines and sandbars pose unseen dangers, and higher, fast-moving water can tax an individual’s boating, paddling and swimming skills.

y Keep an eye on the weather and always tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return.

y For more on boating in Wisconsin, check dnr.wi.gov/topic/boat.

ATV/UTV

y Wear seat belts and helmets.

y Follow all posted speed limits and regulatory signs.

y Do not travel in unfamiliar areas.

y Let someone not riding with you know where you’re going and when you’ll return.

y Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during your ride.

y Take an online safety course before operating.

y For more on ATV/UTV use in Wisconsin, check dnr.wi.gov/topic/atv.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?

Fantastic spring edition highlighting the marshes of Wisconsin. I’m incredibly grateful to see the eastern massasauga rattlesnake included. I would love for people to know a bit more about the species I’ve fallen in love with as an undergrad at UW-Green Bay.

They’re a pygmi rattlesnake, so a different genus than timber rattlers and much smaller at 2-3 feet. Notably shy, these snakes are happy to let people walk right on by without so much as a rattle. Their diet is mainly rodents, so they help keep tick populations down. Their habitat is the same that supports other endangered species like Karner blue butterflies and Blanding’s turtles.

Eastern massasauga rattlesnake conservation research helps inform recovery of many species. I don’t expect everyone to love them, but they deserve tolerance. Supporting the EMR supports birds, butterflies, turtles, wildflowers, and helps conserve the marshes and wetlands that help keep our waters clean.

Chris Bory

Plymouth

PHRASES TO PRAISE US

WNR spring 2025 “Marsh Madness” is an educational, entertaining and inspiring gift to your readers. The articles, photos, exploration trips, etc., are professional and powerful. People will be:

y tripping through the tamaracks

y tiptoeing through the trilliums (don’t pick)

y exploring the marsh, river and pond (it’s alive!)

y seeking serenity in silent spaces

The pages are an invitation to feel the joy of nature. Thank you for your work. P.S.: Kids Corner is the cherry on top!

Jim Paprocki Green Bay

THAT’S ONE KING OF A CATCH

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED BY RIVERS

I have been retired for about five years now and spend many of my days walking in the woods and near our awesome lakes and rivers. I was inspired to write a poem in an effort to share my thoughts with others on how important our rivers have and always will be to each of us and to our communities.

Bob Nelson Lake Geneva

Thanks for sharing, Bob! Here is an excerpt:

My river is your river and is currently flowing

And our waters run together never slowing

As time goes by, our rivers turn They wind, moving slowly then faster as they climb and descend

Our rivers, we hope, will find the next bend

And never stop running or find an end

Wanted to share this photo of my 10-year-old daughter and her prize king salmon catch. Was a beautiful Lake Michigan day out on a charter with Grandpa. We left the Kewaunee harbor before sunrise, and she was able to land this 20-pounder just after the sun came up. A replica now hangs on her wall for her to enjoy for years to come.

Jason Konz Appleton

KUDOS FOR DNR PICK

Karen Hyun

Wow, Gov. Evers’ appointment of Karen Hyun as secretary of the DNR looks like a terrific win for Wisconsin. How did I come to that conclusion? I just read her well-written introduction and reviewed her credentials in the spring 2025 edition. She aligned herself perfectly with the values and pride of us outdoor types.

Her breadth of experience from her previous environmental leadership responsibilities is what the DNR and Wisconsinites need to sustain our state’s natural resources. Welcome, Secretary Hyun, and thank you, Gov. Evers, for making a great hire.

P.S. What an energetic article Emma Macek authored in the spring edition. It was an informatively written introduction to the wetland articles that followed. I loved the metaphors and the benefit descriptions she used to add energy and enthusiasm in her “Marsh Madness” article. Her positioning encouraged me to “read on” about Wisconsin wetlands.

Greg Gerard Hudson

A SNOWY OWL STORY

I enjoyed reading the article by Jada Thur on the snowy owl in the winter 2024 issue. It reminded me of a special experience I had many years ago while deer hunting.

I was still-hunting through some spruce trees that were heavy laden with new snow, taking one quiet and lingering step at a time, when suddenly, a snowy owl exploded out of the lower branches of a tree just a few feet ahead of me. He then flew silently away through the trees, knocking off more snow as he departed.

I was left standing there trying to figure out what had just happened. A great and very memorable experience!

Norm Hanson Roseville, Minnesota

ONE TO SAVOR

As my husband started reading, he kept telling me that I absolutely needed to read the spring issue. I looked it over and found it was the best well-written issue we ever got — and we’ve been getting it for many, many years.

Every article was totally educational and historical. It covered every part of Wisconsin outdoor news in a very concise and comprehensive way. The authors of each article are very good writers. This is one issue we will never toss out. Thank you, thank you!

Sheila and Jim Fredrick

Cambria

Classic pose for a snowy owl

STAR LAKE REMEMBERED

I am grateful for the article about the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (spring 2025) and especially the mention of the CCC camps and what their work entailed. My dad, Wilferd Mueller of Madison, was at one of the Star Lake camps from 1934-36, right after high school. He took us up there a few times in the 1960s.

Wilferd Mueller at Star Lake Civilian Conservation Corps camp, 1935

He avidly recounted the raid on gangster John Dillinger at Little Bohemia Lodge (April 1934 in Manitowish Waters), which was just before my dad got to Star Lake. Here’s a photo from his album, which I donated to the Wisconsin Historical Society about a decade ago.

Tom Mueller

Oak Creek

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD: tiny but mighty

JADA THUR

FUN FACTS

WISCONSIN IS HOME TO MANY BIRD SPECIES, but one of the most dazzling is the hummingbird. These tiny, colorful birds are a joy to watch statewide from spring through fall.

So, what makes these winged wonders so fascinating, and how can we enjoy them responsibly?

LIFE OF A HUMMINGBIRD

The most common and only regularly breeding hummingbird in Wisconsin is the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris). These little birds weigh about the same as a penny. On average, you’d need a hundred of them to make a pound!

Despite their size, they are strong fliers. They can beat their wings up to 50 times per second and hover in place, allowing them to sip nectar from flowers while staying perfectly still in the air.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate every year, flying thousands of miles between Wisconsin and Central America. They arrive at southern Wisconsin in early May and farther north by mid-month.

Males return south in August, while females and young-of-theyear linger into September or even early October. Numbers are highest in late summer as fledged young abound at feeders, gardens and patches of wildflowers.

❶ Wings that never stop: With wings that move in a figure-eight pattern, ruby-throated hummingbirds fly at astonishing speeds but can stop instantly, hover and adjust their position up, down and even backward. This rapid wing movement creates a humming sound, hence the name.

❷ Tuned in: Hummingbirds, important pollinators, can remember where flowers are, which ones they’ve already visited and how long it takes for those flowers to refill with nectar. This response helps them find the best places to feed.

❸ Fast metabolism: Their hearts can beat up to 1,200 times per minute, or 10 times the rate of humans! To keep up their energy, they feed continuously from sunrise to sunset. A ruby-throated hummingbird visits over 1,000 flowers in a day, consuming half its weight in nectar.

❹ Bright colors: Hummingbirds are able to identify vibrant hues of red, orange and pink.

RESPONSIBLE BIRDING

If you want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, it’s important to do so responsibly. Here are a few tips:

❶ Plant native flowers: One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds is planting nectar-rich, tubular flowers native to Wisconsin, like bee balm, columbine, red honeysuckle, spotted jewelweed and cardinal flower. Native wildflowers typically offer significantly more nectar than cultivated flowers. These native plants naturally provide food for the birds and attract a variety of insects that supply the birds with protein, plus their vibrant blooms add beauty and biodiversity to your landscape.

❷ Homemade nectar: Make your own nectar by mixing four parts water with one part white granulated sugar. Boil the mixture to dissolve the sugar and let it cool completely before filling feeders. Avoid using honey, as it can promote the growth of harmful bacteria. Also do not use red dye in your nectar — natural flowers are enough to draw in the hummingbirds.

❸ Feeder placement and cleaning: Feeders should be hung in shaded areas away from direct sunlight. This will help the nectar from spoiling quickly and keep the hummingbirds comfortable while feeding. To prevent the spread

of diseases, clean your feeders once a week in cooler weather and every 2-3 days in the heat of summer. Use hot water and mild soap to wash them and rinse thoroughly before refilling with fresh nectar.

❹ Avoid pesticides: Pesticides can be toxic to hummingbirds (and other wildlife visitors). If you have a garden for hummingbirds, keep it free of harmful chemicals.

❺ Provide water: Hummingbirds need water, too. Consider adding a shallow bird bath or a mister to your yard so they can drink and bathe safely. Remember to keep the water source clean and change the water regularly to ensure the well-being of your hummingbird visitors.

Hummingbirds are beautiful and fascinating birds. By learning more about them and following a few simple guidelines, we can make sure they stay safe while enjoying their visits.

Whether you are a dedicated bird watcher or just enjoy seeing them fly around your garden, hummingbirds will always be a special part of Wisconsin’s summer scene.

Jada Thur is a communications specialist in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

INFREQUENT VISITORS

The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only regularly occurring hummingbird in Wisconsin. One other, the rufous hummingbird, is seen in very small numbers each year, usually from July to November. Six other species are accidental, meaning they’ve only been spotted a few times in the state:

• Allen’s hummingbird

• Anna’s hummingbird

• buff-bellied hummingbird

• broad-billed hummingbird

• green-breasted mango

• Mexican violetear

WCampfire

Campfire

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION

TIPS TO BUILD THE PERFECT FIRE TIPS TO BUILD THE PERFECT FIRE

HETHER IT’S THE HYPNOTIC GLOW OF THE EMBERS and soothing crackle of burning firewood or the comfort and safety provided by the warmth of the flames, there’s just something about a fire that has made it a place for gathering, sharing stories and making memories since time immemorial.

Even today with our data plans, streaming services and endless entertainment at our fingertips, a well-constructed campfire is still a sure bet to get people swapping the eerie blue glare of their phones for the welcoming orange glow of the firelight.

Although simply getting a campfire started is a basic skill many have exercised countless times, not all

Teepee: This cone-shaped fire is the simplest and probably most popular campfire. It’s easy to build, good for sitting around and throws a lot of heat and light. It burns quickly, though, meaning you’ll need to make frequent adjustments.

campfires are created equal. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, read on for a few tips and tricks to help you build a better fire this summer.

CHECK THE FIRE CONDITIONS

The best campfire is a safe campfire, and on days with elevated fire danger, ensuring fire safety is just not possible to do. Small campfires for warming or cooking purposes do not require a DNR burn permit, but it’s always best to check the fire danger for your area before you burn — apps.dnr.wi.gov/wisburn.

Log cabin: Another classic, constructed by layering wood in a box-like shape, this fire offers the same benefits as the teepee without the need to constantly tinker with it.

PICK YOUR SPOT

Where you choose to build your campfire can either set you up for success or sign you up for a long evening.

If you’re at a campground, look for a designated fire pit or ring. If you’re somewhere more rustic, create your own by digging a shallow depression into the ground, clearing away all flammable materials and surrounding the edge with rocks to form a ring. Ideally, the base of your fire should be sand, gravel or mineral soil.

GATHER YOUR MATERIALS

To burn a successful fire, you’ll need three types of fuel.

❶ Tinder: small twigs, dry leaves, dried pine needles, tree bark, etc.

❷ Kindling: small sticks or small pieces broken off larger logs, ideally less than an inch in diameter.

❸ Firewood: larger pieces of wood, typically 12-18 inches long. These logs will provide the structure for your fire and keep it burning for hours if properly arranged and maintained.

PRO TIPS

• Avoid using wet or green (freshly cut) wood. It won’t burn very well and will produce lots of unpleasant black smoke. Instead, opt for wood that’s had at least a few months to dry (season). Even if it gets wet on the outside, the inside will still be dry and will burn well.

• Opt for hardwoods (oak, apple, maple cherry, ash, etc.) over softwoods (like pines). They will give you a cleaner, hotter fire, smell much better when burning and will last longer. Pine is fine for kindling, though, as it will catch quickly.

• Buy local, burn local. Help prevent the spread of invasive species by purchasing firewood for your camping trip on-site (or within 10 miles of your campsite) instead of bringing it from home or picking it up along the way. Leave any unused firewood behind to avoid bringing home unwanted pests. Firewood Scout provides a free online tool to search for local firewood retailers — firewoodscout.org

CONSTRUCTION MATTERS

Now that you have your materials, it’s time to build. First, plan how you’ll assemble your campfire. There are several popular “blueprints” for fires, each offering pros and cons. Pick the style that fits your needs and go from there.

Regardless of which style you pick, always start with tinder, add kindling and then finish with larger firewood. Fire burns upwards, so faster-lighting materials should be below larger logs.

Lean-to: Using a single log as a windbreak, this fire comes with its own shelter, making it great for windy or rainy weather.

Swedish torch: This fire is created with a portion of tree trunk, set vertically, then scored on top with several small cuts and lit at its center. It throws very little heat for a fire and not much light but uses little fuel and will burn for a long time.

LIGHT IT UP!

Now for the fun part, no lighter fluid required (in fact, leave that stuff at home). Strike your match and hold the lit end up against your tinder (don’t just toss it in the direction of your fire pit). Aim your match toward the bottom so your tinder can catch and burn upwards. Once you have the tinder lit, blow on the flames to help the fire grow.

Pro tip: Leave space between your logs.

“A good fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. By opening up one small section of the fire ring, you can allow more oxygen to enter the fire,” said Catherine Koele, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.

“This low-level air works to properly feed the fire and help it burn efficiently, which reduces smoke.”

TIME TO RELAX

You did it! Your hard work has paid off with a beautiful campfire. Time to sit back, relax and enjoy an evening by the fire — hard to beat that!

PACKING UP

When it’s time to head home or retreat to your tent, always fully extinguish your campfire. Failing to do so could start a wildfire.

“Just like you wouldn’t leave a candle burning in your house when you leave, making sure your campfire is completely extinguished is one of the biggest things you can do to prevent a wildfire,” Koele said.

Use the “drown-stir-drown-feel method,” Koele added.

“Having a bucket of water nearby along with tools like a rake or shovel will make using the method an easy way to ensure your fire is completely out,” she said. “Burying warm or hot coals or dousing the fire with sand is not a reliable method, and it can easily rekindle, even days afterwards.”

Remember, always burn responsibly. Only you can prevent wildfires!

Zach Wood is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

GIMME GIMME S’MORES!

Time spent relaxing around a campfire can be hard to beat — especially when you add a few sweet treats.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY TOP A NIGHT SPENT SITTING AROUND A CAMPFIRE? A night spent around the fire enjoying some delicious s’mores! No campfire is complete without this famous sweet treat.

Believed to be a contraction of the phrase “some more,” s’mores are indeed irresistible. The invention (or at least popularization) of the ubiquitous camping dessert sandwich is credited to Loretta Scott Crew via the 1927 publication of “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.”

From there, this warm, gooey, chocolatey treat has become a staple of camping trips, bonfires and backyard hangouts across the country. And for good reason — s’mores are delicious, require only a few basic ingredients and are incredibly simple to make.

Assembling a perfect s’more involves nothing more than a graham cracker base, half a chocolate bar and a marshmallow toasted to perfection (in the eater’s opinion — there’s no right or wrong), then topped with another section of graham cracker.

That’s it! A perfect bite of summer is literally at your fingertips.

NEXT LEVEL TREATS

Although the combination of graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow is unquestionably the default for s’mores, campers need not be bound by convention. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors.

Here are just a few creative s’mores variations to try this summer.

DOOR COUNTY DARK CHERRY S’MORE

graham cracker + ripe Door County cherries + dark chocolate + marshmallow

BIRTHDAY S’MORE

sprinkled toaster pastry + milk chocolate + toasted pink marshmallow + rainbow sprinkles

SPICY S’MORE

graham cracker + chili powder + marshmallow + cinnamon + chocolate sauce

SUNSHINE S’MORE

lemon cookies + white chocolate + marshmallow + lemon curd

SUGAR MAPLE S’MORE

pretzel chips + caramel + marshmallow + crispy bacon + maple syrup

CHEESE S’MORE

butter cracker + your choice of cheese + your choice of jam + marshmallow

CARAMEL APPLE S’MORE

graham cracker + apple slices + marshmallow + a chocolate-covered caramel

SEND US YOUR COMBOS

The possibilities for s’mores are as endless as your imagination. Get creative with it! After all, s’mores are meant to be fun.

What’s your go-to s’more? Let us know at dnrmagazine@wisconsin.gov. Your recipe just might be shared on the DNR’s social media pages!

— ZACH WOOD

DNR pilots enjoy bird’s-eye view of conservation

ART KABELOWSKY

THINK BACK TO THE MOST AMAZING NAT -

URAL WISCONSIN VISTA you’ve ever seen — those towering trees, that glistening water, the rolling hills and valleys. Now, imagine that same gorgeous view from 9,000 feet up.

An enviable vantage point, right? Well, it’s just another day at the office for the nine pilots in the DNR’s Aeronautics program, part of the Division of Forestry.

“It’s interesting to see the big picture, the largescale amazement of what we can do with sound forest management, and then compare that with being on the ground,” said Paul Christensen, section chief for the Aeronautics program.

“The beauty is more specific from the ground — individual trees and leaves, the interaction between the water and the woods. But from the air, you see the magnitude of it all, and how everything … fits into the big picture.”

Whether in their Cessna airplanes or behind the controls of DNR drones, the pilots — based out of five airports around the state — serve as soaring eyes in the sky for Wisconsin’s conservation programs. They support the agency wherever needed to fulfill its varied goals, from forestry to fisheries.

WILDFIRE WORK

Job One for the pilots, especially in spring and summer, is to support the DNR’s wildfire prevention and suppression efforts.

“The biggest impact we’ve had within the aviation program is our dedication to fire,” said Christensen, who works out of the Siren Airport in Burnett County. “It can be a grueling process at times, but it is some of the most impactful work we can do.

“We’re funded by the people of Wisconsin, so it’s key to our mission to protect them and their resources.”

The pace of the work can vary, said Niki Gaskins, a DNR pilot based in Oshkosh.

“Some days are slow because not a lot is burning, but some days you’re called out for multiple fires,” Gaskins said. “We’re there to provide any help we can.”

NEW TECH HELPS

Beyond fire work, a range of other tasks fills a pilot’s to-do list year-round, including mapping flood damage, photographing spongy moth defoliation and surveying populations of Wisconsin creatures, from ducks to deer.

“Every day is different, and it can change by the hour,” Gaskins said.

The Aeronautics program also can be pulled in to respond to emergencies such as tornadoes, floods and fuel spills, aid law enforcement and environmental regulation enforcement, assist in search-andrescue efforts, conduct aerial telemetry surveys for various wildlife species and perform other tasks such as aerial tree seeding.

Christensen is excited by technical advancements that have helped DNR pilots in almost every phase of their work. Digital cameras with GPS capabilities have been an especially key improvement.

“Watching the state acknowledge and welcome new technology over the last 5-7 years has been big,” Christensen said. “Our upgrade in cameras has had such an impact. Being able to (geographically tag and map) the photos helps us to be more efficient.”

SIGHTS TO SEE

Gaskins recently started her third year as a DNR pilot after 17 years of experience as a flight instructor. One of her favorite assignments so far has been to survey eagles’ nests up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline. In Wisconsin, bald eagles generally lay eggs in late March or early April.

“We look to see if eagles are sitting on their nests,” Gaskins said. “We’ll go back in early May and see which ones have chicks, so our staff can go and band them.

“There are more than 100 (nests). We fly from Oshkosh to Sheboygan, then follow the shoreline up to Door County and down the peninsula to Green Bay.”

Taking to the air to protect Wisconsin’s resources is work for the pilots, but the sights they see can leave a personal impression.

“The waterfalls up there out of northwest Wisconsin get me,” Christensen said. “At Amnicon Falls State Park, the falls are pretty amazing from the air.

“I liked it so much I took the whole family there on a camping trip. It was beautiful. Now, my wife and kids make plans to go camping somewhere in Wisconsin every year.”

Art Kabelowsky is an outreach and communications specialist for the DNR’s Forest Health program.

“We’re funded by the people of Wisconsin, so it’s key to our mission to protect them and their resources.”

— PAUL CHRISTENSEN, SECTION CHIEF FOR THE AERONAUTICS PROGRAM

Tipping the scales in favor

GARRETT DIETZ

Better underwater habitat can lead to having more small fish, which in turn provides food to support plenty of bigger fish.

of fish

habitat efforts show promise for population growth

INCREASE FISH PRODUCTION IN YOUR LOCAL LAKE with this simple, nature-based solution! It sounds like a bad infomercial or a clickbait webpage headline. But it’s actually an exciting reality that the DNR’s Office of Applied Science has validated through an ongoing study in northern Wisconsin.

The “simple solution” is adding coarse woody habitat, the technical term for large, dead wood.

Think whole trees, logs or branches that naturally occur in forests and fall into nearby waterbodies. For northern temperate lakes, this wood is the main source of new nutrient inputs.

When Greg Sass, fisheries research team leader, started the study back in 2015, there was one central question: Does adding coarse woody habitat to lakes simply attract fish to congregate around the new structure or does it actually help increase a lake’s carrying capacity and produce more fish?

Sanford Lake in Vilas County was selected for the research project. The first three years of the study involved monitoring the lake to understand its baseline

Coarse woody habitat includes trees or large branches that end up in waterbodies.

fish populations and limnological conditions.

Once a baseline was established, the research team added coarse woody habitat to Sanford Lake’s aquatic ecosystem by cutting down 140 trees from the adjacent riparian zone, where the landscape transitions from an aquatic ecosystem to upland vegetation.

Then they started monitoring the potential influences of this habitat manipulation.

“Through this research, we discovered the answer to our initial question is that fish production is directly related to carbon inputs coming off the landscape,” said Sass, Ph.D., who oversees the DNR’s Northern Highland Fishery Research Area.

“Since we added new coarse woody habitat to the lake in 2018, we’ve seen fish production double.”

This isn’t just a bold claim — this is the work of a decade of research and monitoring, which will continue until the study ends in 2031. The next step is to drop more trees and continue adding coarse woody habitat to the lake to see how that further influences fish production.

KEY FINDINGS

The process for the study so far has been relatively simple, but the results speak for themselves. Essentially, the process stimulates the bottom-most level of the aquatic food web, creating a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem (see sidebar).

As the primary food sources at each level of the food web expand over time, the carrying capacity, or population a lake can support, increases for all the different species in the ecosystem.

These are important findings, and not just for fish and anglers. They are also key for lakefront property owners, recreators and developers who live, explore and build along the shores of these ecosystems.

The findings of the study, funded by Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration, are a bit more nuanced than simply adding trees to double fish production, Sass noted. And increased numbers may not occur in every type of lake, such as eutrophic waters (rich in nutrients that promote plant life, meaning less of the dissolved oxygen needed by fish).

Still, this study shows just how crucial coarse woody habitat is for lakes, said Sass, who also has used the project as a jumping-off point for related research.

“Wood is a natural part of the northern temperate lake ecosystem, and everything from fish and turtles to birds and plant life benefits from it,” Sass said.

Garrett Dietz is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

The DNR’s Office of Applied Science is conducting a long-term fish habitat study in northern Wisconsin, with collaborators including the DNR’s Bureau of Fisheries Management, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Madison.

KEEP IT NATURAL

If you’re a lakefront property owner in Wisconsin, you can help fish production where you live by fighting the temptation to have a manicured shoreline. Natural habitat in the form of wood, rocks or vegetation is a critical piece of lake ecosystems. If you want to pursue habitat additions to a waterbody, consult your local DNR fisheries biologists and learn about the best practices and permits required to do so. For resources related to lakefront properties, scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3681.

HOW TO LEND A HELPING HOME

Adding coarse woody habitat can improve the carrying capacity of a northern temperate lake fish community, allowing the lake to support more overall fish. Here’s how it works.

Trees in the forest surrounding the lake are cut down and added to the water (these are called “tree drops”) to increase the amount of coarse woody habitat in the system. Trees also can be brought to lakes from other areas (these are called “fish sticks”) to help conserve the surrounding riparian forest cover.

Newly added coarse woody habitat encourages the growth of periphyton (algae and other microbes), increasing the available food for macroinvertebrates.

The increase in macroinvertebrate populations means more food for smaller fish species using the habitat additions as a nursery or refuge.

These densely populated habitats become hunting grounds for littoral zone (close to the shore) fishes at the top of the food chain, like northern pike and muskellunge (pictured).

SAUGEYE

A saugeye, as the portmanteau suggests, is a cross between a sauger and a walleye, both native to Wisconsin waters. This hybridization occurs naturally in environments where both walleye and sauger populations are present, so anglers hoping to catch one should focus their efforts on Wisconsin’s larger rivers and the Winnebago System.

According to Joe Hennessy, DNR’s treaty coordinator and walleye expert: “Saugeye tend to grow quickly due to a phenomenon known as ‘hybrid vigor’ and will typically grow to larger sizes than a normal sauger, although still smaller than what can be seen in large walleye.”

Like their larger, more famous parent, saugeye make great table fare, Hennessy added.

IN THE FAMOUS FILM “FORREST GUMP,” the title character aptly describes life as being “like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

With over 160 species of fish calling Wisconsin’s waters home, the same could be said for each and every cast into any of the state’s abundant lakes, rivers or streams.

Wisconsin anglers know to expect the unexpected. Yet, some fish are particularly noteworthy when encountered due to their unique appearance and (to those in the know) their fascinating lineage.

That’s right, we’re talking about Wisconsin’s hybrid fish! Here’s a look at some of the state’s fantastic fish and where to find them.

TIGER MUSKY

There is likely no more famous or ferocious hybrid fish cruising Wisconsin’s waters than the famed tiger musky. These sterile fish, a cross of northern pike males and muskellunge females, are some of the most striking fish you’ll find in fresh water.

Tiger muskies occur naturally in many waters across the state where northern pike and musky are present. Like both parents, they are voracious predators with the capacity to test an angler’s willpower and equipment.

These fish grow faster than a pure musky, although they do not attain the same maximum size. That’s nothing to sneeze at, though, as the world record tiger musky — caught right here in Wisconsin! — weighed a whopping 51 pounds, 3 ounces.

“Tigers” have irregular light vertical bands on a dark background; rounded caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins; five to seven pores on each side of the lower jaw; and fully or partially scaled cheeks and partially scaled operculum (the flap over the gills).

HYBRID (OR GRAY) CRAPPIE

A hybrid crappie, also known as a gray crappie, is the byproduct of a black crappie (typically female) and a white crappie (typically male), hence why some call them gray crappie. These hybrids occur naturally in waters where both white and black crappie are present.

The hybrid grays tend to look very similar to black crappie, although they will often grow to larger sizes than either parent species due to hybrid vigor, said Max Wolter, DNR fisheries biologist.

“A lot of the really large ‘black crappies’ we hear about from our local anglers on certain lakes are actually hybrids — that’s why they are so big,” he said.

TIGER TROUT

Although not very well known outside of the trout-fishing community, perhaps no hybrid fish is more prized and prestigious than the tiger trout. Catching one of these gorgeous fish, sterile crosses between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, is a bucket-list item for many trout anglers.

Tiger trout display unusual markings found in neither parent, making them a truly unique sight to behold in a net. Add to that an inherent scarcity in the wild, only appearing in areas where brook and brown trout share spawning grounds, and it’s easy to see why they carry the cachet they do in the angling world.

HYBRID SUNFISH

Wisconsin is home to a number of sunfish species, and many of them are genetically compatible with each other, meaning many of Wisconsin’s waters contain hybrid sunfish — although plenty of anglers refer to almost all of them as bluegills.

Hybrids share traits from both of their parent sunfish species, which already look somewhat alike, so hybrids can be difficult to identify, even by the experts. Perhaps the most common sunfish hybrid is the cross between a bluegill and pumpkinseed, said Alex Latzka, DNR fisheries biologist.

“These are our two most common sunfish species,” Latzka said. “They are native and have strong populations throughout much of the state, so they are encountered more frequently than hybrids of the rarer warmouth or long-ear or orange-spotted sunfish.”

LEARN MORE

Regardless of their target species, all Wisconsin anglers should familiarize themselves with the state’s fishing regulations, bag limits, length requirements and any special rules in place for the waters where they’re fishing. Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing.

For those looking for new places to explore or more information on their favorite local lake, check out the DNR’s new Wisconsin Fishing Finder tool. It’s a one-stop shop for regulations, launch locations and access points, stocking information and more. Go to dnrmaps.wi.gov/H5/?viewer=WFF.

See you on the water, and here’s to tight lines!

WOMEN’S WORKDAY

PROMOTES LAND STEWARDSHIP

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY KRYSTAL PENCE

The annual Women’s Habitat Workday — co-coordinated by Britta Petersen of Pheasants Forever, below right — provides a great venue for land management learning.

THE HUM OF CHAINSAWS ECHOED THROUGH THE AIR as a group of conservation-minded women moved through the forest with quiet confidence — sharing knowledge, honing skills and creating connections with the land.

As they cleared brush, managed invasive species and reshaped the landscape with precision, it wasn’t just about lending a hand. It was about education, empowerment and proving that there’s a place in stewardship for everyone.

This past March, the 2025 Women’s Habitat Workday near Hook Lake State Wildlife Area in the town of Dunn gave women in southern Wisconsin the opportunity to engage in hands-on land stewardship. Now in its fourth year, the program’s mission is to offer women, female-presenting and nonbinary individuals a chance to learn land management skills alongside experienced female conservationists.

“This day creates a more welcoming and safer place, an opportunity for women to ask questions and feel comfortable using our power tools,” said Julie Widholm, a DNR wildlife biologist and event co-organizer.

The event is a collaboration of the DNR’s Wildlife Management and Natural Heritage Conservation programs and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever. Britta

Petersen, a Farm Bill biologist for Pheasants Forever, was among those who helped coordinate this year.

“A lot of us run or help with other women’s events — learn to hunts, landowner workshops, etc.,” Petersen said. “We’ve seen firsthand how women learning from other women makes a huge impact, and we wanted to provide that in this setting, too.”

RESPONSIBILITY SHIFTS

The March workday took place at a farmstead with several outbuildings that was once owned by the late Jack McManus, a longtime Madison attorney. The property, now managed by the DNR, encompasses diverse Wisconsin landscapes, including oak savanna, prairie and even a bog.

The surroundings served as a dynamic hub for workday volunteers to learn and apply various land management skills such as using chainsaws, cutting brush and applying herbicides.

Women have a long tradition of tending the land and taking pride in doing so. Across generations, cultures and beliefs, many women around the world are connected by a love for the forests, meadows and savannas they call home.

Land stewardship is deeply rewarding but also

comes with immense responsibility. Over time, more of that responsibility is shifting to women.

According to the National Woodland Owner Survey, conducted by the USDA Forest Service, 60% of forested lands in the Great Lakes, Northeast and midAtlantic regions are influenced by decisions made by women. That number is expected to rise, as more women attain the financial means or outlive male spouses to become sole landowners.

This shift presents an opportunity for women to take the lead in conservation efforts on their land and within their communities. Arguably, the most effective way to learn is to get involved and acquire skills in hands-on environments.

SUPPORT AND SHARING

But women often are not afforded the same opportunities to acquire needed skills on a similar scale as their male peers, especially in a historically maledominated field like conservation.

“Jobs I’ve had haven’t been all men, but usually more men than women on a team,” said workday volunteer Maggie Szpot, who works in the conservation field.

She shared that in her experience, newer, less experienced people are not always given the opportunity to learn new skills and equipment, as the more seasoned people will do it on their own rather than take time to teach someone else.

“That’s why I’m here — to get that experience and bring it back to my job,” Szpot said.

The sense of camaraderie was immediate at this year’s Women’s Habitat Workday event. A shared passion for conservation united those in attendance, empowering them to learn from and support one another in tending the lands we enjoy.

As summer begins, women will have increasing opportunities to gain knowledge and demonstrate their stewardship skills in the field.

“Don’t be fearful, and don’t be shy,” said workday volunteer Laura Hofstad. “There are other women who want to experience this same thing with you.”

LEARN MORE

Habitat management volunteers are needed for a variety of projects and workday events around the state, particularly at state wildlife areas and state natural areas. For details, scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/volunteer.

Let’s Celebrate!

IT’S A PARKS JUBILEE, AND EVERYONE’S INVITED!

THE WISCONSIN STATE PARK SYSTEM

TURNS 125 THIS YEAR — it’s been that long since Interstate in St. Croix Falls became the very first Wisconsin state park. The DNR is marking the occasion throughout 2025, and we’d love for you to be part of the celebration.

Head out to state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas as they mark the milestone with exciting programming for visitors of all abilities and experience, including a special anniversary ceremony Sept. 20 at the granddaddy of them all, Interstate.

Don’t miss out on the festivities and the chance to enjoy Wisconsin’s exceptional state properties during this historic year. Our website will keep you updated on what’s happening this summer and all year long as events continue to be added — dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/125years.

Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine will continue its anniversary coverage, too. You’ll find related stories and photos about the Wisconsin State Park System in each quarterly issue this year, including this one. Read on for more!

— ANDREA ZANI

Interstate Park on the St. Croix River, established in 1900.

Parks for the party Parks for the party

OME PEOPLE IN LOVE SEEM TO LOVE STATE

Our call for photos depicting weddings or special moments in the Wisconsin State Park System drew a number of beautiful images from people just married or newly engaged. We even got invitations to some upcoming nuptials!

Sharing photos from your celebrations at state properties helps us share our celebration: the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System.

State parks, forests and recreation areas can indeed provide the ideal backdrop for tying the knot. They’re great for family reunions, birthday parties, work picnics and other

Minimal gatherings at state properties have no special requirements, and a small wedding ceremony may be conducted in just about any public area. For large events, you’ll need to consult the manager of the property where the event will be held and follow certain guidelines. A special event permit might be

HERE ARE A FEW BASICS TO KEEP IN MIND:

y Some shelters and amphitheaters can be reserved for events (generally up to 11 months in advance); fees vary by facility.

y Allowed items include chairs and other small equipment, but any large equipment such as tents or catering vans require permission and/or permits.

y No amplified music or sound is allowed without approval.

y All setup is day-of-event only.

y Decorations must be temporary and nondamaging.

y Any business associated with the event, such as a wedding photographer, is required to obtain a Commercial Use Permit from the property manager.

y Parking is available in regular areas shared with all park guests, and state park vehicle admission passes are required for all vehicles.

y State properties are public places, and groups are subject to the same rules on alcohol (allowed with some exceptions), pets (must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet), and noise.

y All trash generated by an event must be removed.

y Day-use hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

With dozens of beautiful state parks, forests and recreation areas throughout Wisconsin, you and yours might find one to be the perfect place to make lasting memories.

Andrea Zani is managing editor of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

LEARN MORE

For more on day-use guidelines for the Wisconsin State Park System, including a link to wedding information specifically, scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3636

To locate just the right state property for your next celebration, check the DNR’s Find a Park tool, dnr.wi.gov/tiny/801

“I had the joy of photographing my cousin Audra’s wedding along the picturesque shoreline of Lake Michigan. The Point Beach dunes were an incredibly inspiring place to work and make portraits of Audra and her husband, Brian, married now nearly a decade.”

— Zach, wedding photographer

“One of our favorite places to visit is Copper Falls State Park.”

— Hailey and Sean

“We chose to elope around the ‘golden hour’ on a lovely summer evening at Mirror Lake State Park.”

— newlywed Jordynn

“It all started with skiing at Kettle Moraine State Forest. … The tables at our reception are going to be named after state parks and forests we have traveled to.”

— Deborah and Daniel

TAKE THE PATH

LESS TRAVELED

OUR MOST POPULAR

STATE PROPER -

TIES sure are beautiful, but they’re also so well-known that everyone will be there. Looking for more space? Explore hidden gems to have plenty of elbow room and simultaneously reduce the stress of crowds on more frequented places.

During the busy summer season, visitors may experience long lines to enter, limited parking availability and crowded trails and picnic areas, especially at the state’s more familiar properties.

But with dozens of state parks, forests, trails, recreation areas, wild rivers and flowages to explore, there are plenty of places to find your adventure while avoiding the crowds. Head to one of these hidden gems for a little more breathing room.

LEARN MORE

Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/801 to use the DNR’s Find a Park tool and plan your next adventure.

COUNCIL GROUNDS STATE PARK

Located along the beautiful Wisconsin River near the site of onetime Native American encampments, Council Grounds State Park is a favorite for water enthusiasts. The park offers many recreational opportunities, including family and group campsites, wooded trails, a beach area and an accessible fishing pier. A boat landing provides access to Lake Alexander and the Wisconsin River.

HARRINGTON BEACH STATE PARK

Harrington Beach boasts more than a mile of beach along Lake Michigan. This 715-acre park also features a white cedar and hardwood swamp, old field grasslands with restored wetland ponds, and a scenic limestone quarry lake. You can camp, sunbathe, picnic, hike, bird watch and fish, or practice astronomy during public events at the park’s Jim and Gwen Plunkett Observatory.

KETTLE MORAINE STATE FOREST-LOEW LAKE UNIT

Situated along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, this spot has hiking, horseback riding, fishing and hunting opportunities. Loew Lake is a day-use property with no overnight camping. There are plenty of trails and access to Loew Lake for paddling adventures.

KINNICKINNIC STATE PARK

Located where the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers meet, this park offers experiences in two types of worlds. Enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Kinnickinnic River Valley or partake in the many popular water-based recreational pursuits on the St. Croix River. A large sandy delta is found at the junction of the rivers. You can also explore 10 miles of hiking trails and 10 miles of newly constructed single-track mountain bike trails.

NELSON DEWEY STATE PARK

This park overlooks the Mississippi River from a 500-foot bluff. Camp, hike or picnic high above the mighty Mississippi. And combine your love of the outdoors with interesting history. Named for Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey State Park features the Dewey home and nearby Stonefield, a Wisconsin Historic Site.

NEWPORT STATE PARK

Newport’s wilderness experience offers more than 2,300 acres of forest on 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with 30 miles of hiking trails and backpack camping as a quiet alternative to bustling Door County. At the far end of the Door Peninsula, Newport is also designated as a Dark Sky Park, a perfect destination for stargazing.

STRAIGHT LAKE STATE PARK

Lake views and glacial features provide great vistas on the trails in this 2,000-acre park. Ten walk-in campsites along with carry-in boat launches and a picnic area with a reservable shelter are found on the south side of the park’s two lakes. A premier segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail meanders through the park.

Jonna Mayberry is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

Accessibility essentials

FIND

WHAT YOU NEED FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

SANDY SHORES

Many of Wisconsin’s state parks have beautiful beaches, and several provide beach access for people with mobility disabilities by using specialized wheelchairs or mats.

Beach wheelchairs have large inflatable tires that make it easy to move on the sand and get into the water. Beach mats create a stable surface for walking and using mobility devices.

These properties have universal beach access:

y Big Bay State Park, beach wheelchair

y Buckhorn State Park, beach wheelchair

y Copper Falls State Park, paved accessible trail along the water’s edge at the Loon Lake beach

Everyone can have fun in the sun in the Wisconsin State Park System this summer. Whether you want to stay on land or cool off in the water, properties across the state have universally accessible recreation opportunities like beaches, playgrounds and kayak launches for people of all abilities.

Beach access mat, Richard Bong State Recreation Area

y Devil’s Lake State Park, beach access mat and beach wheelchair

y Harrington Beach State Park, beach wheelchair

y Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit, beach wheelchair

y Kettle Moraine State ForestSouthern Unit, beach wheelchair

y Kohler-Andrae State Park, two beach wheelchairs (one for general use and one at the accessible cabin)

y Newport State Park, beach wheelchair and a motorized all-terrain wheelchair (for use on sand but not in the water)

y Peninsula State Park, beach wheelchair and beach access mat

y Point Beach State Forest, beach wheelchair and a motorized all-terrain wheelchair (for use on sand but not in the water)

y Richard Bong State Recreation Area, beach access mat

y Whitefish Dunes State Park, beach wheelchair and beach access mat

Beach conditions can fluctuate with weather and water levels, so be sure to check with the park for current information before visiting.

PADDLE FUN

Adaptive kayaks allow people of all abilities to hit the water. Outriggers near the back of these kayaks are adjustable to four different widths, depending on the user’s level of function, providing increased water stability.

A raised back with side supports also offers a comfortable and secure seat while paddling, and the seat can be fully removed for individuals with greater upper-body function. The adaptive kayak paddle has hand braces that make paddling easier for individuals with limited grip.

Adaptive kayaks are available for everyone and are a great option for new paddlers and people with a wide range of disabilities, including people who need a more stable kayak for balance issues due to aging, etc.

Adaptive kayaks are available at these properties:

y Buckhorn State Park

y Copper Falls State Park (tandem model)

y Council Grounds State Park

y Devil’s Lake State Park

y Kettle Moraine State ForestNorthern Unit (kayak and launch)

y Kettle Moraine State ForestSouthern Unit/Ottawa Lake (tandem model)

y Lake Kegonsa State Park (tandem model)

y Lake Wissota State Park (tandem model)

y Merrick State Park (kayak and launch)

y Perrot State Park

y Potawatomi State Park (tandem kayak and launch, completed by mid-June)

y Yellowstone Lake State Park (tandem model and launch)

These kayaks are available through the park’s canoe/kayak concessionaire, and typical rental fees apply.

The DNR also has added universal kayak launches to several properties, including Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area, Merrick and Yellowstone Lake state parks, Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit (opening early June), Twin Valley Lake at Governor Dodge State Park, Mauthe Lake Recreation Area in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit, and Potawatomi State Park (opening mid-June).

Universal kayak launches feature an accessible pathway, a transfer bench, handrails and rollers or launch guides to help glide the boat into the water. Additional universal kayak launches are planned at other state properties.

PLAY MORE

Several state properties have play areas that are universally accessible to young outdoor explorers. These areas include an accessible play surface and inclusive play equipment and are on accessible pathways.

You can find universal play areas at these properties:

y Belmont Mound State Park

y Blue Mound State Park, universal splash pad, and the pool has a chair lift

y Harrington Beach State Park, in the beach parking lot

y High Cliff State Park, in the upper day-use picnic area

y Peninsula State Park, at the Nicolet Beach day-use area

y Richard Bong State Recreation Area, nature classroom behind the visitor center

Many state properties also have other adaptive equipment and accessible areas, such as outdoor wheelchairs, fishing spots, hunting blinds, campsites and cabins so all can enjoy the great outdoors. Keep in mind that adaptive equipment offerings can change throughout the year. Please call the property before you visit to confirm the availability of the equipment or accessible features you're interested in using.

Emma Macek is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

LEARN MORE

Check the DNR’s Open the Outdoors webpage to discover the many accessible recreation opportunities in Wisconsin’s state parks, forests and recreation areas. Scan the QR code or go to dnr.wi.gov/topic/OpenOutdoors.

FRIENDS GROUPS ENHANCE THE PARK VISITOR EXPERIENCE

There for

ACCESS

TO ON-SITE FIREWOOD, shelters and playgrounds, naturalist adventures or even a well-maintained trail might be taken for granted by visitors to the Wisconsin State Park System, but these things don’t just happen. Often, it is a park Friends Group that makes them possible.

After all, that’s what Friends are for.

More than 60 official Friends Groups are currently on the side of Wisconsin’s state parks, trails, forests and recreation areas. Members of these nonprofit organizations volunteer their time and skills in direct support of individual properties — to the tune of thousands of service hours every year.

In addition, Friends are vital in raising money for the properties they support and also obtain funding through means such as the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin grants.

“Friends Groups have provided the Wisconsin State Park System with over 36 years of support from their members and millions of dollars from their nonprofit fundraising efforts,” said Janet Hutchens, the DNR’s Friends Group and volunteer services coordinator.

PUTTING ‘FUN’ IN FUNDRAISING

Friends bring the fun, too! As part of fundraising efforts, Friends sponsor special events like music in the park, fish fry evenings and trail runs, or offer ice sales, food options and watercraft rentals.

This year, several Friends Groups will be selling limited edition T-shirts marking the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System.

“The great thing is the money they raise stays at the property and goes towards improvements like upgrades that provide universal access, new fire rings and grills, trail enhancements and education programs,” Hutchens said.

Friends Groups also offer state trail pass sales as part of a vendor agreement with the DNR, Hutchens noted, with a percentage of revenue going back to the group. In fact, Friends Groups sold more trail passes in 2024 than any other contracted vendor.

“We couldn’t provide as many high-quality experiences as we do without these extremely dedicated individuals that make up our Friends Group family,” Hutchens said.

LEARN MORE

Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/friends for details on Friends Groups, including a list of properties with current groups and how to join or how to form a group where one does not yet exist. For more on the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks umbrella group, see fwsp.org.

Enjoying mountain bike trails opened at New Glarus Woods in 2024 comes courtesy of the state park’s Friends Group.

for you

OFFICIAL PARTNERS

Recognized Friends Groups form with the support of the DNR and are permitted by a Wisconsin state statute enacted in 1989 (Wis. Adm. Code NR 1.71). The legislation standardized the Friends partnership program and specified the role of these groups as more sought to aid state properties.

Official Friends Groups begin by talking with individual property managers, then proceed with steps such as establishing nonprofit tax-exempt status and following guidance from the state Department of Financial Institutions. Finally, groups sign an agreement with the DNR to formalize the partnership.

Friends are authorized to use designated facilities, offer activities, conduct sales and otherwise support a property.

From a start of some two dozen loosely formed organizations back in 1989, the number of Friends Groups has grown nearly three-fold. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers are working at properties statewide to enhance the visitor experience.

Rest assured that when you’re visiting the Wisconsin State Park System, you’ve got Friends in all places.

Andrea Zani is managing editor of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

FWSP FINDS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Beyond individual groups that boost specific properties, the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks also is found on the Friends front, raising money and awareness. Established in 1996, this nonprofit umbrella organization brings Friends together by providing resources, support and a common forum for its member groups along with grants that fund a variety of projects.

In addition, FWSP sponsors activities and works with the DNR in other ways to improve the park experience. And it serves as a public voice in support of the Wisconsin State Park System, including in legislative matters.

Randall Paske, FWSP president, attributes the organization’s success to the spirit of countless volunteers.

“Our volunteers are the lifeblood of these parks,” Paske said. “They’re constantly working to make each visit memorable, whether it’s through maintaining trails, organizing events or educating visitors about our state’s natural wonders.”

FWSP also has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for state properties over the years, with money for projects like pollinator gardens, new signage, invasive species control and beach wheelchairs. And the funding is only growing in 2025.

In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System, FWSP is working this year to raise $125,000. Funds will be used to purchase universal recreation equipment, expand trails, improve campgrounds, add picnic tables and more at properties around the state.

A peek at parks

peek parks

Buckle up for a ride-along as we go behind the

scenes

WITH 20 MILLION VISITS expected annually, there’s no such thing as downtime for Wisconsin State Park System staff.

In early April, we caught up with one park superintendent in the middle of her preparations for the busy summer season. Here’s what just a single “day in the life” looks like for Molly McKay, superintendent of Kohler-Andrae and Harrington Beach state parks.

8 a.m.

The sun has just risen over Lake Michigan, the last pink brush strokes dispersing across the horizon at Kohler-Andrae State Park near Sheboygan. Winter is hanging on — it’s about 40 degrees. A light breeze carries sand across the otherwise peaceful dunes.

Just down the road and around the corner, a white Ford Super Duty with a DNR logo pulls up to the welcome center.

The first thing McKay does is log on to a computer and print off a list of park camping reservations: current campers and those expected after today’s 3 p.m. check-in. The list will come in handy in a little while.

She does a quick comb through emails — nothing urgent — then it’s time to huddle with the team and discuss the game plan for the day.

Molly McKay’s daily duties involve making rounds at both the parks she oversees, which includes verifying camping reservations and vehicle admission passes and looking for anything amiss.

Every morning, Kohler-Andrae and Harrington Beach state parks superintendent Molly McKay (far left) convenes a huddle with fellow parks staff to review their to-do list. This day's group included park ranger Nick Sorenson (center), park manager Ed Muzik (second from right, now retired), and park ranger Katelyn Grissom (far right).

8:30 a.m.

A short truck ride later and McKay has relocated to a big workshop containing all the tools and maintenance equipment you can imagine.

She greets her team: park manager Ed Muzik, park ranger Katelyn Grissom and park ranger Nick Sorenson. Muzik and Sorenson are in the middle of ratchet-strapping metal umbrella frames to a trailer for volunteers from the Friends of Kohler-Andrae State Park to help put up next time they visit.

McKay and the team discuss today’s priorities: dead tree cleanup, water heater rewiring (only two weeks until they turn on the water for the season!), a cordwalk retaining wall inspection and other miscellaneous tasks. Since arriving this morning, Sorenson has already changed the oil in the Ranger (UTV) and taken off the snowplow attachment to one of the trucks in their fleet.

“A park ranger is essentially a jack of all trades,” McKay explains. “Everybody does everything. We all have to know how to do basic plumbing, electrical work, grounds maintenance, carpentry … as well as the customer service side.

“There’s so much to do, but we love the variety.”

The group finishes the morning briefing and splits up to start tackling the to-do list.

9 a.m.

Seated in the truck with her clipboard and camping reservations sheet in hand, McKay starts the daily rounds. We drive a full, slow lap around the 988-acre park and two trailheads.

Among the things we’re looking for are people camping without reservations, cars without vehicle admission stickers, any loose pets (don’t worry, we have a leash in the truck should we encounter one, which does happen rather frequently), signs of vandalism or any environmental hazards such as standing water or downed trees that need to be cleaned up.

It’s early spring, so there are only two camping groups registered today, and both are right where they’re expected to be. There are, however, plenty of regulars who show up every day to walk their dogs and get fresh air, and McKay gives them each a familiar wave as we pass by.

We do end up finding a few downed trees, a broken signpost and a concerted area of trash scattered about — McKay suspects some raccoons were up to no good overnight. There’s also a missing fire ring.

McKay notes each of these situations and will take them back to the team to rectify. She also issues one courtesy notice for a vehicle with a park sticker that’s on the dash and not properly affixed to the windshield.

The entire time, we’re tidying up — picking up trash, emptying dog waste pails and repositioning picnic tables shuffled around by guests. You can tell McKay and the whole team take a lot of pride in the park and how it is presented to guests each day.

10 a.m.

Now that rounds are complete, we need to assess the condition of a retaining wall located along Kohler-Andrae’s 2-mile cordwalk. The wall needs to be reinforced with additional boards to stop the sand from drifting out from under it.

As we walk about a quarter mile to the site in question, McKay gestures broadly toward the impressive landscape.

“This view does not get old,” she says. “Every day, I get to see the water, the sand, and I love that it’s so moody. The colors of the sky, the composition of the clouds, the plants as they green up — it’s like living in an ever-changing painting.”

At the cordwalk repair spot, McKay takes out a tape measure and notes each board length on her clipboard, sketching a primitive diagram of the shape of the wall and the additional boards that will be needed to reinforce it. She also notes the condition of the rope and some of the boards of the cordwalk, all to be replaced within the next few months.

Our state parks require lots of maintenance, including reinforcing this retaining wall along KohlerAndrae’s 2-mile cordwalk.

11 a.m.

With that task ticked off the list, it’s time to pitch in on the tree-cutting efforts. The team has identified two dead pine trees near one of the beach parking areas that pose a potential hazard to visitors. Muzik, Grissom and park ranger Jarrett Mapes, just arrived from Harrington Beach State Park to help out, are donning chaps, gloves, ear protection and helmets to get started. McKay follows suit in gearing up, and they all make a circle around the first tree.

With a few deft swipes of McKay’s chainsaw, the tree comes down. The team jumps into action, chopping it up into smaller logs that will eventually be cut, stacked and used as firewood.

We’re in one of the more heavily trafficked areas of the park, and cars and pedestrians are continuously passing by the worksite. Muzik and McKay have set up traffic cones and help direct vehicles while the others work efficiently to get the site cleared as quickly as possible. They wave to drivers and greet other parkgoers as they walk past.

Noon

Lunchtime! We make a pit stop at a dumpster to offload the trash we’ve been gathering. Usually, the team goes back to the shop to take lunch together, but today McKay has to zip 15 minutes down Highway 43 to Harrington Beach State Park, the other property she oversees. We pop in at the visitor center to collect the Harrington Beach keys and check emails again. McKay is in the midst of hiring seasonal employees for the summer season, so there are lots of messages flying around. She eats lunch as she works her way through the inbox.

A top priority for every park staff member is to provide excellent customer service to all parkgoers — including the four-legged ones!

PARK PICKS

Park superintendent Molly McKay offers a few of her favorite things about KohlerAndrae State Park, the scenic spot on the shores of Lake Michigan that welcomed 631,000 visitors in 2024.

y Favorite campsite: number 84 (“It’s private and has a beautiful white pine tree.”)

y Favorite season: spring

y Favorite bird to spot at the park: barred owl

y Favorite park activity: “Hikes on the cordwalk with my dog.”

12:30 p.m.

As we cruise down the highway on our way to Harrington Beach, McKay reflects on the highs and lows of her job.

“The hardest part is being pulled in so many directions all the time,” she says. “I feel like I don’t have enough time to do everything that I need to do.”

Her career also has evolved as her responsibilities have increased.

“You come in as a ranger with a certain set of skills, and then as a superintendent you develop all these other skills — from working with customers to maintenance, operations, budgets and human resources,” she muses. “Having a really varied job makes it fun for me, but it can also be challenging.”

We drive on, and she points out a roughlegged hawk perched in a tree, noting it will probably migrate further north soon.

12:45 p.m.

We arrive at Harrington Beach State Park and greet a small group of about 10 people gathered around a flagpole-looking structure outside the welcome center.

This group is a mix of Friends of Harrington Beach volunteers and purple martin bird enthusiasts. One of the people has built a new purple martin community nesting box, and today is the ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the elaborate bird housing complex.

McKay is attending the ceremony as a representative of the DNR. After brief remarks explaining the functionality and importance of the new structure, the birdhouse is cranked up the pole. The house is ready for occupancy! In the minutes following, McKay takes time to chat with and thank each of the attendees.

“Volunteers make the work we do possible,” she says. “The hours they put into the park are the equivalent of adding more than two additional staff to our team. We have to make sure they know how much we value their efforts.”

WE’RE HIRING

There are many different ways to enter a career in parks, and the DNR is hiring! Visit wisc.jobs and select “Dept of Natural Resources” in the “Search by Agency” dropdown menu to find a job that might fit your career goals and interests in the Wisconsin State Park System.

Friends of Harrington Beach volunteers and purple martin bird enthusiasts donated this new purple martin community nesting box to the property. McKay attended the ceremony as a representative of the DNR.

2 p.m.

This is when our magazine crew and McKay must part ways, but it’s far from the end of her day. She’ll be making the rounds at Harrington Beach, following the same routine she performed earlier in the day at Kohler-Andrae. Afterward, she’ll return to the welcome center at Kohler-Andrae and catch up on emails once again. Eventually, she’ll head home for the day to be with her husband and their son. It’s her husband’s birthday, time to celebrate.

Molly Meister is a publications supervisor in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

Prepare for common outdoor encounters when adventuring in the Wisconsin State Park System

YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT to a rustling sound outside your tent. Your first thought is usually something nightmare-inducing, like a bear rearing back to rip through the canvas or a snake looking for an opening to slither into your sleeping bag.

In all likelihood, there’s no cause for alarm.

Most things you’ll encounter while camping or day-tripping at a Wisconsin state park, forest, trail or recreation area are pretty harmless. If you see rustling in the woods or hear a noise at night, it’s probably a common visitor, like a squirrel or raccoon.

PESKY PLANTS

POISON IVY: This native plant produces oil that’s well known for causing itching, irritation and, in severe cases, blistering. The best way to prevent contact is to learn to identify this three-leaved plant. Take precautions when in the woods by wearing long sleeves, pants and gloves.

WILD PARSNIP: An invasive plant with grooved stems and yellow flowers, wild parsnip can quickly take over a landscape. Its sap can cause skin burns when exposed to sunlight. If you think you’ve been exposed, cover the affected area and wash with soap and water.

But just because there aren’t many things to worry about in Wisconsin doesn’t mean all you’ll encounter is harmless. Here’s a list of some things to watch for in the outdoors.

STINGING NETTLE: Hairs from this large (2-7 feet tall) perennial plant inject several chemicals when coming in contact with the skin, causing welts, inflammation and a burning sensation. Removing the hairs and using cooling lotions can help reduce symptoms.

WORRISOME WILDLIFE

SHORT-TAILED SHREW: Weighing about an ounce, these furry creatures — classified as insectivores, not rodents — spend much of their time underground, often relying on echolocation to maneuver. They’re voracious eaters that use venomous saliva to subdue prey. A bite could cause painful swelling for humans but is not life-threatening.

COYOTES: A common sight across much of Wisconsin, coyotes don’t pose much risk to humans in the wild but have been known to attack small pets. If you’re hiking or camping with a four-legged member of the family, be sure to keep them close and on a leash, especially at night or in areas known to be frequented by coyotes.

BLACK BEARS: While their teeth and claws might make them look scary, bears usually stay away from humans and attacks are exceedingly rare. But be cautious, especially when cubs are in the picture. For more about being bear aware, see Page 54.

Garrett Dietz is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

REMEMBER REPTILES

RATTLESNAKES: Wisconsin has two venomous species — the timber rattlesnake and eastern massasauga. Both are found only in the southwest portion of the state and are rarely seen. They belong to the family of snakes known as pit vipers, which can be identified by their rattles, vertical eye pupils and pits next to their nostrils.

SNAPPING TURTLES: They aren’t usually a cause for concern, but bites, especially from snapping turtles, can be a painful experience for your fingers and toes. Snappers are most aggressive on dry land, so steer clear when possible and hold them away from your body if you pick them up to help them across a road.

INSECTS AND TICKS

BEES AND WASPS: Buzzing by, they might give us a scare. However, bees and wasps aren’t naturally aggressive and usually only sting when their nests are disturbed or they feel trapped. If you get stung by a honeybee, it leaves both its stinger and a poison sac behind. Never squeeze a honeybee sting. Instead, use a fingernail or plastic card to scrape at the wound and push out the stinger without injecting more poison.

TICKS: These eight-legged, leathery, blood-feeding relatives of mites attack when they find exposed flesh and can stay attached for days. Deer ticks are the only known carrier of Lyme disease in Wisconsin and are common in wooded areas with lush understories or shrubby materials. Wear long sleeves and pants to protect from these parasites and do a thorough tick check promptly after outdoor activity, including for pets. To remove a tick, use tweezers and grasp it as close to the head as possible.

Wisconsin State Park System by

the numbers

State recreation areas

› cadiz springs state rec. area

› capital springs state rec. area

› chippewa moraine state rec. area

› fenley state rec. area

› fischer creek state rec. area

› hoffman hills state rec. area

› menominee river state rec. area

› richard bong state rec. area

› sauk prairie state rec. area

› chippewa flowage

totogatic wild river

lower wisconsin riverway › turtle-flambeau scenic waters area › willow flowage scenic waters area river

Marked water trail routes for paddlers

› flambeau river state forest › governor earl peshtigo river state forest

Observatories for the ultimate star-gazing experience

› harrington beach state park

› wyalusing state park

properties with motorized all-terrain wheelchairs for accessible recreation

› buckhorn state park

› peninsula state park

› point beach state forest

› newport state park

lighthouses

› eagle bluff lighthouse - peninsula state park

› pottawatomie lighthouse - rock island state park

› rawley point lighthouse - point beach state forest

properties named after wisconsin governors

› governor dodge state park

› governor knowles state forest

› governor nelson state park

› governor thompson state park

› governor earl peshtigo river state forest

Months ahead is how early you can reserve a camping spot

› book your next wisconsin adventure: wisconsin.goingtocamp.com

Some features are so unique, they are only found at one park system property in the state. don’t miss these one-of-a-kind experiences.

properties with observation towers for bird’s-eye views of Wisconsin’s beauty

› blue mound state park

› buckhorn state park

› copper falls state park

› high cliff state park

› mackenzie center

› peninsula state park

› rib mountain state park

› richard bong state rec. area

› hoffman hills state rec. area

› kettle moraine state forest - lapham peak unit

› kettle moraine state forest - northern unit

› kettle moraine state forest

- pike lake unit

state water trail

› lake michigan state water trail

swimming pool

› blue mound state park

golf course at a state park

› peninsula state park internationally designated dark sky park

› newport state park

accessible observation tower with a ramp

› peninsula state park

HELP US CELEBRATE 125 YEARS!

Bee on the lookout Bee on the lookout

ANDI SEDLACEK

HAVE YOU SEEN SOME BEES THIS SUMMER? Don’t fret – they're good for flowers, the vegetables in your garden and other plants. Plus, our bumble bee friends need a little help. Bumble bee populations are declining across the U.S., including in Wisconsin, but you can do some simple things around your yard to keep the bees buzzing this summer and beyond.

❶ Leave the weeds. When a dandelion pops up, you may be tempted to grab the weed killer, but hold up! Maintaining a yard free from pesticides and herbicides is helpful for bees. Insecticides can harm or kill bees, and herbicides can kill the plants they need to survive, so think twice about spraying and help out your local bees.

❷ Offer them a drink. Bees and other pollinators are just like us: They need water to drink. One easy way to provide a bee-friendly watering hole in your yard is to take a shallow container like a pie pan or plant saucer, add gravel or a few rocks (so any pollinators can rest on them while they drink), and add some water. Refresh the water every few days.

❸ Create a cozy place to rest. Bees also need safe places to rest, avoid bad weather and spend the winter. You can maintain brush and leaf piles in your yard and avoid trimming hollow-stemmed plants through the winter to offer places where bees and other pollinators can take a break.

❹ Plant native plants and trees. Early-blooming trees are an important food source for bumble bee queens emerging from hibernation and many other insects, which in turn provide food for birds and bats. Planting flowers that bloom at varied times throughout the growing season — like columbine (spring), bee balm (summer) and goldenrod (late summer and fall) — can fill your garden with colors for months while providing food to pollinators.

❺ Report the bees you see. Think you saw a native bumble bee? The Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade wants to know! Visit wiatri.net/inventory/bbb to learn more and find a link to submit your observations. You also can become a trained volunteer with the Bumble Bee Brigade to conduct surveys of bees and attend events to help spread the word about their importance.

The more data we have on bees, the more we know and the better we can manage and conserve their populations. Get involved now to help bees — they would bee so grateful!

Andi Sedlacek is communications director for the DNR.

from roots to seeds

SPECIALIZED ORCHID CONSERVATION BLOSSOMS IN WISCONSIN

IN THE WORLD OF

PLANTS, there’s one captivating flower unmatched in its beauty and variety: the orchid.

You might think of extraordinary mimicry, where the petals look like a female bee, or envision vibrant, pink flowers in bulbous shapes. Orchids also are sometimes considered delicate, but it’s a mistake to generalize them as stunning or simple, fragile or hearty. They are all these things.

Even the notion that all orchids have eye-popping flowers isn’t true. White adder’s mouth (Malaxis monophyllos), a Wisconsin special concern species, has up to 50 tiny (about 1-3 millimeters) greenish-white flowers on a central stalk.

Orchids are one of the largest plant families and grow in all 50 U.S. states. Wisconsin, with diverse though often isolated habitats, has 48 native orchid species, and at least one has been observed in every county.

In northern Wisconsin, showy orchids like the ram’s head lady’s slipper (Cypripedium arietinum), a state-threatened plant, can be found in wet alkaline bogs and dry sandy uplands. The eastern prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera leucophaea), a Wisconsin endangered and federally threatened species, is among the orchids found in remnant wet prairies with lots of sunlight as well as tamarack swamps.

But despite the impressive variety of orchids in the state, the news isn’t all good.

THREATS AND DECLINE

About 37% of Wisconsin’s orchids are rare, and about half are declining. Poachers or even well-meaning plant lovers can root up or trample plants and harm already small populations.

Another threat to orchids is habitat quality and availability. Having healthy soil with abundant fungal communities and few invasive plant species goes a long way to support orchids.

Pesticide-free, interconnected habitats also help. And many other plants and animals, like pollinators, benefit from these conditions, too.

Any decrease in these habitats can put orchids and others on shaky ground.

CONSERVATION ACTION

While orchids are found in a broad range of shapes, colors and habitats, there’s one thing nearly all have in common: Their seeds are tiny.

Seeds from an open orchid pod almost look like sawdust. Unlike larger-seeded plants, the material to give the orchid seed its initial boost to germinate and grow isn’t there.

To get nutrients, orchids need help from mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizae are a type of fungus made up of very fine threads that weave through healthy soil and attach to a plant’s roots, providing it with water and nutrients.

The DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program, in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden, is working to identify the unique fungal partners of orchids and to bank seeds from 10 rare orchids in the state.

DNR botanists use a toothpick to collect the pollinium (inset) of an eastern prairie fringed orchid so its mass of pollen can be transferred to another flower.

The project is funded by a grant through Botanic Gardens Conservation International that supports work on rare plants located on U.S. Forest Service properties. This includes the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin.

In summer 2024, staff from the DNR, the Chicago Botanic Garden and the U.S. Forest Service visited the forest to scout for orchids and collect a small sample of the seeds, roots and surrounding soil. The seeds, roots and attached mycorrhizae were sent to the Chicago Botanic Garden and cultured within a week of collection.

In the future, fungal cultures will be genetically sequenced, identified and tested for the ability to germinate the orchid they were collected from, then the seed will be banked.

“Preserving the seed provides a little bit of security from declines we are seeing in our wild populations,” said DNR botanist Kevin Doyle. “If these species disappear before we can bank them, then there is no chance at bringing them back or preserving those unique genotypes.”

Banking seed and mycorrhizae provides conservation options, Doyle added.

“Rare plant introductions, especially with species as finicky as orchids, often fail,” he said. “That’s why we first want to bank seed and identify mycorrhizae. It’s a slower approach but should ultimately be more effective.”

HELPING HAND

In addition to a specific fungal partner, orchids also often have a specialized pollinator. Their unique floral shapes,

colors and irresistible scents have evolved to attract specific pollinator species. For the eastern prairie fringed orchid, for example, this is a nightflying hawk moth, also known as a sphinx moth.

But dependence on these extraordinary relationships also makes orchids vulnerable. If the habitat, climate or space isn’t right for the pollinator, the orchid will not produce seed and will eventually disappear.

This is especially true for orchids in isolated pockets of habitat, like the eastern prairie fringed orchid. But hand pollination is helping to prevent the disappearance of these rare flowers from Wisconsin.

During the flowering period, DNR staff use a toothpick to collect pollen, which is in a specialized club-like structure called a pollinium. Once they’ve gathered a flower’s tiny pollinium at one site, they will take it to a plant at a different site, deposit it on a new flower, collect more pollinia and return to the first site to cross-pollinate flowers there.

“We’re trying to imitate what the natural pollinator of eastern prairie fringed orchids would do,” said DNR botanist Jessica Ross.

“This orchid can take up to five years to go from a seed to a flowering plant, so it will take a while to see progress, but so far we’re seeing larger seed pods in hand-pollinated flowers, and that’s a good sign.”

Katharine Caywood is a communications and marketing specialist for the DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program.

GET INVOLVED

Conservation work offers hope for orchids in Wisconsin, and there are ways you can help.

• Volunteer with the Wisconsin Rare Plant Monitoring Program (see story on Page 50) — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3616

• Support the Endangered Resources Fund, including with the purchase of a special license plate — dnr.wi.gov/tiny/1261

ARARE OPPORTUNITIES

VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL PLAYERS IN SUPPORT OF UNIQUE PLANTS

VOLUNTEERS ARE VITAL PLAYERS IN SUPPORT OF UNIQUE PLANTS

T THE EDGE OF OCONTO COUNTY, in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, lives a land of giants.

Large sugar maple and basswood trees, with scattered beech, ash and red oak, soar here. There are even pockets of pine and hemlock, a reminder of the vast conifer forests of northern Wisconsin’s past.

Trees here are over 2 feet in diameter, and the canopy is almost entirely closed. If clouds roll in at noon, it might as well be midnight.

The scant amount of sunlight filtering through means there isn’t much growing beneath. Still, the forest floor is what makes this site so special.

The ground here is soft and spongy. Compared to other areas of the forest, where earthworms devour decomposing leaf litter and turn the ground into hard

mud, this place is like walking from hardwood flooring onto plush carpet.

Earthworms, not native to Wisconsin, often are introduced along ATV/UTV trails or logging roads and spread from there. Luckily, there are still parts of the state, though few and far between, where earthworms haven’t yet reached. This is one of them.

Habitat like this is so perfect for a particular rare plant that you get a sense you’re about to find it before you even start looking: the little goblin moonwort.

Entering “unwormed territory” in a sugar maplebasswood forest is a sure signal that this stateendangered and globally imperiled fern might be present.

HIDE AND SEEK

Little goblin moonwort (Botrychium mormo) is a tiny plant, only a few inches tall. Sometimes, it doesn’t even make it above the leaf litter, so to find it takes some work.

Those who’ve had success spotting this tiny forest dweller have noted it is often found in cradles or shallow depressions left by the tipped-up roots of a fallen tree. Leaf litter accrues in these cradles, making them richer and moister than the surrounding forest.

Little goblin moonwort also seems to prefer basswood trees and is often found near particularly big ones. Lastly, many goblin moonwort populations are found just above the dried-up bed of an ephemeral pond, the seasonally wet depressions so important for frogs and salamanders in spring.

Knowing these characteristics about little goblin moonwort is necessary to find it. Patience and a little luck don’t hurt, either.

But finding rare plants is not always this difficult. Like humans, each plant has its own issues. Some are extremely showy but suffer from genetic inbreeding. Others appear similar to a more common plant and are simply overlooked.

Little goblin moonwort sprouts through the forest floor leaf litter.

Many rare plants are hidden in plain sight.

A few years ago, DNR ecologist Ryan O’Connor found a new population of green violet (Hybanthus concolor) while surveying at a state natural area in Pierce County. The plant hadn’t been seen in Wisconsin since 1958!

Even more incredible, the new population discovered by O’Connor was pretty big — hundreds of plants. Green violet isn’t very showy, so named because the flowers match the foliage. Most likely, these rare plants had been there a while but were undiscovered because either no one had taken time to look or because the plants didn’t stand out.

VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS

Thousands of rare plant populations are scattered across Wisconsin, making it impossible for DNR staff to keep tabs on all of them. That’s where you can make a difference.

The Rare Plant Monitoring Program is a DNRcoordinated citizen science program that trains volunteers to search for rare plants and submit data to the DNR. The program effectively extends the DNR’s reach to understand how our most vulnerable and unique plants are doing.

The unpretentious green violet can be easy to miss when surveying for rare plants.

LEARN MORE

Volunteers can join the DNR’s Rare Plant Monitoring Program by taking a free online training. Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3616. For more on rare plants in Wisconsin, including a full species list, see dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3621.

People might assume if they see a rare plant species, the DNR already knows it’s there. But it’s important to report every rare plant sighting.

Getting updated information on how these plants are doing is critical to staying ahead of novel or imminent threats. Invasive species can move in quickly, turning good habitat to bad in a matter of a decade.

Take little goblin moonwort, which has declined up to 67% percent in the last 20 years as earthworms march across the Northwoods. If follow-up surveys were never done, we might have a false sense of security about how they’re doing — and before we caught on, they’d be gone.

Since the Rare Plant Monitoring Program started in 2013, more than 2,000 reports have been submitted by volunteers. With that information, the DNR has learned some species are declining statewide, like white lady’s slipper, goldenseal and prairie turnip.

Volunteers also have revisited known populations where a once minimally threatened dry prairie was chock-full of buckthorn. They often find undiscovered populations of rare plants, too, with more than 150 new populations of rare plants reported by volunteers since the monitoring program began.

INFORMATION IS VITAL

Besides using the data volunteers collect to inform land management, the DNR also uses information on rare species location, population sizes, habitat and potential threats to protect plants in other ways.

When new state natural areas or local preserves are being delineated, the presence of rare species can help prioritize certain parcels or help secure funding to make the acquisition. When new developments or timber harvests are proposed, the impact to known populations of rare plants and animals must be considered.

Information collected about rare plants in Wisconsin also can have an impact on the national or even international level.

The DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program, which monitors rare plants and animals in the state, is part of an international network of similar programs that compiles rare plant information across North America and Latin America. Wisconsin data can help assess species’ trends on a greater scale and decide what more should be done to protect them.

All the different ways rare species data are used highlights the connections needed to protect these vulnerable and unique parts of our flora and fauna.

Kevin Doyle is a botanist with the DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program.

A few years ago, state-threatened Hill’s thistle was spotted in southeast Wisconsin for the first time in more than a century.

KEVIN DOYLE

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news when it comes to vulnerable plants. Habitat management and valuable work by the DNR’s Rare Plant Monitoring Program are big reasons for this. Here are a few examples.

ALERT SPURS ACTION

Habitat management is a necessity for almost all rare plants, perhaps most importantly in the prairies of southern and western Wisconsin. As fire-dependent plant communities, prairies require more management with prescribed burning and removal of invasive species, which enter prairies from nearby roads and trails.

Recently, a local Rare Plant Monitoring Program volunteer, George Riggin, alerted the DNR’s Driftless Area ecologist about the need to clear brush from a series of bluff prairies overlooking the Wisconsin River near Boscobel.

From surveys he’d done on the site, Riggin knew these prairies and the adjacent forest supported numerous rare plants, including the state-endangered hairy wild petunia (Ruellia humilis). But the site was languishing due to lack of management.

Riggin’s alert prompted DNR Wildlife Management and Natural Heritage Conservation crews to host a work party. Crews systematically removed native and invasive brush so the prairie flora could thrive.

MANAGEMENT YIELDS RESULTS

Elsewhere in southern and western Wisconsin, a new rare plant pops up seemingly every year in sites that are consistently managed.

Cassville Bluffs State Natural Area, for example, seems to reveal a new-to-us rare plant population as an annual tradition. Near Whitewater, the statethreatened Hill’s thistle (Cirsium hillii ) showed up for the first time in 2015 at a savanna that has probably received more habitat management than any other in the region.

This plant is scarce globally and especially rare in southeast Wisconsin, where it hadn’t been seen

east of Janesville since 1897. It’s no coincidence it happened to reappear at a site where so much management has occurred.

EMBRACING NEW APPROACHES

Sometimes, habitat management isn’t what you might think it is. Prairie bush clover (Lespedeza leptostachya) is a tall, slender legume found in dry prairies in southwest Wisconsin and is listed as state-endangered and federally threatened.

Research has found that this rare bush clover produces viable seed, but seedlings have a difficult time establishing and growing to adults because the thatch of prairies grasses is often too thick. To address the issue, land managers have mowed and raked to clear space for prairie bush clover to establish.

But researchers also found that low levels of cattle or even bison grazing and frequent prescribed fire are compatible with prairie bush clover recruitment. The DNR has worked with The Nature Conservancy to study this approach in Wisconsin.

Over time, bush clover will be monitored to see how seedlings persist and hopefully grow into mature adults that themselves produce future generations.

Kevin Doyle is a botanist with the DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation program.

AWARE BE BEAR

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY YOU’D EXPECT TO SEE A BEAR in your backyard, but it happens. You might spot them when enjoying the outdoors, too, though confrontations are uncommon in Wisconsin.

Knowing what attracts bears and how to minimize these things — and what to do if you encounter a bear — will go a long way to keeping you safe.

Wisconsin is home to an estimated population of more than 24,000 American black bears (Ursus americanus). Generally secretive animals, bears are far more prevalent in the forested northern half of the state, but sightings can occur in just about any Wisconsin county.

“Wisconsin’s black bear population is healthy and has been slowly expanding southward for years,” said

Randy Johnson, large carnivore specialist in the DNR’s Bureau of Wildlife Management. “Bears can commonly be found into portions of central and west central Wisconsin as well.”

Bear populations in the southern part of the state are expected to remain insubstantial, Johnson noted, “due to limited habitat and current management actions.” Still, seeing bears in these areas happens.

“Bears spotted in southern Wisconsin are often transient young males roaming and looking for new territory,” Johnson said. “This is a normal part of black bear ecology and behavior and is a sign of a healthy population.”

Increased use of trail cameras, home security cameras and cell phones, along with the ability to share

LEARN MORE

BearWise, a trademarked initiative of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, including the Wisconsin DNR, offers a wealth of information about American black bears and tips to coexist. Scan the QR code or go to bearwise.org. For details on black bear management in Wisconsin, see dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3606. And for more about black bear ecology, behavior and avoiding conflict, check out the DNR’s “Living with Bears in Wisconsin” brochure, dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3611

AWARE

Wisconsin’s

BEAR SAFETY TIPS

Incidents of black bears attacking humans are very rare, and there has never been a fatal wild bear attack recorded in Wisconsin. But encounters do occur, mostly as the result of bear habituation around humans due to feeding, whether intentional or not.

The DNR, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services Program, responds to about 600 bear-related nuisance complaints in the state each year. If you’re concerned about run-ins at your home or while enjoying the outdoors, remember these tips.

• Please don’t feed the bears. Eliminating potential food sources is key to banishing backyard bears and keeping them away from campsites. Never intentionally feed bears.

• Reduce smells from trash and recycling. Thoroughly rinse food containers before discarding and store meat scraps or fats in the freezer or refrigerator until garbage day. If possible, store waste containers in a closed building and lock commercial dumpsters.

• Remove bird feeders when bears are active. Black bears raiding bird feeders tops the list for bear nuisance complaints in the state. Especially in summer months, remove feeders and any fallen seeds.

• Clean grills and picnic tables. Leftover scraps and residues can attract bears.

• Take care when camping. Stash your trash in bear-proof containers or lock it in a vehicle. Keep food, beverages and scented toiletries secured, too, and never bring anything with an odor into your tent.

• Be careful with pets. Though not aggressive by nature, bears might defend themselves or attack pets if provoked. Remove outdoor pet food, limit the time pets are alone outside and keep them on a leash when recreating. Never attempt to break up a fight between a bear and a pet.

• Never approach any bear. And stay far away from a sow with cubs. If a bear feels nervous, it might moan, huff, click its teeth or stomp the ground, indicating it wants space.

images widely on social media, have led to more bear observation reports, Johnson said. “Oftentimes, a single bear moving through an area can be the source of many local sightings,” he added.

WHAT DRIVES THEM

Black bear sightings outside of more traditional habitats often increase in summer, with several reasons for this.

Bears in Wisconsin usually emerge from their dens in March or early April and they’re hungry! Finding food is the priority as they set out. Female bears, or sows, with cubs about 18 months old go their separate ways so the sow can breed again.

“This results in a good number of young bears out on their own for the first time,” Johnson said. “While young female bears tend to establish a territory of their own near the area they were born, young male bears tend to disperse widely and may travel 100-plus miles in their search for suitable territory.”

Male bears of breeding age also might travel widely in search of females and exhibit increased daylight activity. This makes bears more visible, too, especially during May and June.

By late summer, bears are in “full eating mode,” Johnson said, as they prepare for the upcoming winter. “And this can result in more visibility as well.”

FOCUS ON FOOD

As summer turns to fall, it’s particularly important to be aware of what drives bear activity most during that time — food.

“Bears are working overtime looking to fatten up for the long winter ahead,” Johnson said. “I like to say bears have to eat a year’s worth of food in six months! This annual eating marathon is called hyperphagia.”

Bears can spend up to 20 hours a day actively searching for food and eating, hoping to consume 20,000 calories daily. Bears have a powerful sense of smell that draws them to any potential food source.

“This is a time when it’s especially important to make sure there is no bear food available around homes and camps,” Johnson noted. “Doing so keeps bears from coming into conflict with people and pets and ultimately keeps bears wild.”

REPORT A SIGHTING

You can use the DNR’s wildlife observation form online to submit bear sightings in Wisconsin. Go to apps.dnr.wi.gov/wildlifeobservation.

Preparation for DNR conservation wardens like Meng Yang includes everything from AED use and CPR to forensic training.

READY to SERVE

AEDs represent latest way DNR wardens are prepared

JOANNE M. HAAS

ASK CHIEF CONSERVATION WARDEN CASEY

KRUEGER to name the most significant duty in the public service mission of any DNR conservation warden, and his answer is quick and direct.

“There’s nothing more important than saving a life.”

From the first officers who donned state natural resources law enforcement uniforms in 1879 to the current roster of conservation wardens, public safety has been paramount to everyone wearing the warden badge in Wisconsin. Putting their own lives in danger to help others is done without second thoughts.

Casey Krueger, chief warden

Today’s wardens have built upon the skill sets and expertise of their predecessors as they work to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources and ensure those using them make it home safely.

As recreational activities have evolved, so, too, have advancements in emergency response techniques and equipment used by DNR wardens. Arguably, the most important recent expansion of the safety arsenal — the automated external defibrillator, or AED — was spurred by a life-or-death lesson at a cross-country ski race.

SPRINT FOR THE AED

It was 2023 when two conservation wardens were stationed with a local ambulance crew at the crowded finish line of the Kortelopet ski race in Hayward, part of the annual American Birkebeiner weekend. Racers were fast approaching when the wardens heard panicked cries for help: Someone was down.

The wardens — Dylan Belisle and Dave Sanda — sprinted to join others aiding the motionless competitor. The team of lifesavers began CPR as unsuspecting skiers powered around them and oblivious race fans clapped and cheered.

Shouts went out that an AED was needed. The device is used to detect and correct life-threatening heart arrythmias.

“We were in front of the post office,” Belisle said, thinking a federal office would have an AED. He ran in but came up empty-handed.

Belisle ran back to the ambulance, which was equipped with an AED — and it was successfully used to save the race competitor’s life.

The lesson? Because much of Wisconsin is rural and a conservation warden may reach an emergency situation before an ambulance — and because seconds can make all the difference for survival — wardens need AEDs.

LIFESAVING TEAMWORK

As of 2025, all DNR wardens are certified in CPR and equipped with their own AED to go wherever the warden goes. That means on the ATV-UTV trails and snowmobile routes, riding the waves on patrol boats, serving visitors in state parks and keeping watch in the rural countryside.

When conservation warden Kyle Ziembo of Marathon County first got his AED in April 2024, he didn’t expect to use it because his service territory has fulltime emergency medical response teams.

“When I found a place to store it in my truck, I assumed it would likely become a fixture that might turn into a shelf,” Ziembo said. But he was wrong.

“Two weeks later, I was on patrol at a Marathon County boat landing with my supervisor, Lt. Bryan Lockman,” Ziembo said. “That’s when we heard the radio transmission of a man experiencing suspected cardiac arrest.”

When the wardens arrived at the rural home, the man’s wife, a trained nurse, was performing CPR.

“We got our AED and raced to the man’s side as he was down in the yard. He had no pulse and was not

breathing,” Ziembo recalled. “We attached the AED and followed the instructions on when to apply a shock to the heart and when to continue the CPR.”

The emergency medical team arrived about 20 minutes later and took over lifesaving measures. The man survived, thanks to the timely care performed by the pair of wardens and the man’s wife during those minutes before the ambulance arrived.

AID IN REMOTE AREAS

Marathon County has plenty of urban areas, but like many parts of the state, there are rural areas as well. Having AEDs helps wardens better serve.

“Conservation wardens may be able to help if a person’s life is on the line,” Ziembo said.

Deputy chief warden Matt O’Brien agreed, saying the statewide AED deployment is about responding fast no matter the terrain.

“It’s about extending the public safety umbrella into some of Wisconsin’s most remote areas, including our forests, lakes, marshes, wilderness areas and recreation trails,” he said.

“By having adequately equipped and trained responders across Wisconsin’s landscape, the warden service is helping to supplement local resources by delivering time-sensitive defibrillation throughout the state’s landscape.”

OTHER VITAL SKILLS

DNR wardens also are trained in other lifesaving first-aid actions.

In 2023, warden Al Erickson of Iowa County applied a tourniquet to a man who had badly cut himself while using a brush cutter, stemming the bleeding until an ambulance arrived. The man survived.

Wardens are equipped with Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to provide emergency medical care for an opioid overdose. And they’re trained to deal with situations when someone may be contemplating harm to themselves.

Specially trained wardens use drones, off-highway vehicles or remotely operated underwater cameras and sonars to participate in rescue endeavors or to help when a situation might become a recovery effort. These skills can be life-preserving in themselves for responders — more quickly finding a body’s location may reduce the time rescue divers spend in cold or dangerous water conditions.

Wardens who have forensic training and equipment contribute, too, sometimes finding the smallest details to help solve a case. Skills of DNR wardens trained in this way are so valuable, wardens were even asked several years ago to assist in an international boat homicide case in the Cayman Islands.

Just one more way DNR conservation wardens are ready, able — and equipped — to serve.

Joanne M. Haas is the public information officer for the DNR’s Division of Public Safety and Resource Protection.

An AED for cardiac arrest is now part of every DNR warden’s equipment, along with Narcan (inset) to treat opioid overdoses.

FROM BENEATH THE BEDROCK

WELL DRILLING TAPS INTO DRINKING WATER FOR MANY

JONNA MAYBERRY

ABOUT 70% OF WISCONSINITES GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM GROUNDWATER

pumped from wells, including private and municipal public wells. But how does this water get from beneath the ground to our taps? It’s a big process.

The initial goal of water well drilling is to penetrate the “overburden,” which is the gravel, sand and other materials that cover the bedrock. The latter is what the driller is trying to reach.

In some areas, there is no overburden, and in other places, there are hundreds of feet of it — it all depends on the area’s geology.

Sometimes, well drilling yields surprises. Occasionally when drilling, for example, the drill can drop suddenly because it hits an uncharted underground cave.

Well drilling is a dangerous and difficult job. Businesses are often owned by a family, with knowledge passed from one generation to the next. Some younger people are not interested in the job, so there are fewer well drillers these days.

“Well drillers work long hours in dirty and dangerous conditions,” said Marty Nessman, the DNR’s private water section manager. “Drilling businesses are having trouble finding workers, but providing clean, safe water for Wisconsin is really important and fulfilling work.”

The Wisconsin Water Well Association provides continuing education to well drillers to improve the safety of the industry and is a great resource for anyone interested in learning about well drilling as a profession, Nessman said.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

The technology behind well drilling has evolved and modernized over the years. Previously, a lot of work was done manually, which was time-consuming and left room for error.

Now, well drilling is very efficient, Nessman said. “They use water, air or drilling mud, and the drill rigs can get through anything really quickly.”

Scan the QR code or go to dnr.wi.gov/topic/wells for information and resources on private wells in Wisconsin, including drilling, testing and more. If your drinking water is from a public water system, check the Environmental Protection Agency’s Consumer Confidence Reports at dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3591 for information about your community’s water supply.

The main type of technology used today is a rotary drilling machine, a giant truck-mounted machine with a hydraulic pump. This large hammer drill constantly spins, but when it hits obstacles, it makes a powerful impact that fractures the rock.

Occasionally, a type of drill called a cable tool is used. This is a percussive tool that relies on repeated impact.

GETTING TO CLEAN WATER

To bypass potential contamination risks, wells must be drilled deep; this is where the DNR can help.

“We work with well drillers to provide them tools and advice they can use to determine the well’s depth and avoid potential water qualit y issues before they drill,” Nessman explained.

One important practice involves the well casing, a tubular structure placed in the drilled well hole to maintain the well opening. To help prevent contamination, the open space between the casing and the drill hole is filled to ensure that only clean water under the bedrock is accessed and no contaminated surface water is mixed in.

This encasement is formed by pumping grout — often cement or bentonite clay mixed with water —

into the shaft. The grout hardens, completely sealing the outside of the well shaft.

When drilling, it’s easy to tell when groundwater is reached because it violently erupts, so much that a person would probably get knocked over if in its path.

Once the water is hit, a pump is lowered into the well. To get water to the property, a hole is drilled into the casing, and a device called a pitless adapter is installed to direct the water. The well itself is usually sealed and water does not flow directly from it.

TEST FOR SAFETY

While most private water wells in Wisconsin provide safe drinking water, some may become contaminated with bacteria and other contaminants.

Well testing is recommended annually to check for bacteria and nitrates, along with arsenic in some areas of the state. Take action immediately if you suspect a problem with your water or if you notice a change in water quality.

Communications.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS

WHAT TO KNOW AND HOW TO STAY SAFE

Water containing lots of tiny particles or appearing noticeably dirty or discolored might indicate a blue-green algae bloom.

LEARN MORE

Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3581 for more on blue-green algae. The DNR encourages reporting of significant blue-green algae blooms via email to DNRHABS@wisconsin.gov. Please include the bloom’s location with county, waterbody name, nearest town, size and duration of the bloom and overall and close-up photographs for verification (the DNR is unable to test all reported blooms).

I

S THAT LAKE SCUM DANGEROUS? Should my pet go in the water? Should my family swim in it? Questions like these often arise in the summer.

And with good reason, when it comes to bluegreen algae.

Also known as cyanobacteria, blue-green algae are photosynthetic bacteria that many people refer to as “pond scum.” Blue-green algae are most often green, but they can also be blue-green, hence the name, or reddish-purple or brown.

Blue-green algae comprise a portion of a waterbody’s phytoplankton, or microscopic algae, which consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen in waterbodies. Some aquatic organisms eat blue-green algae, but they are lower-quality food compared to true algae such as diatoms and green algae.

Blue-green algal blooms develop when populations grow to high levels that discolor the water, or when calm conditions allow blue-green algae to form floating scums on a lake surface. When blue-green algae reach bloom densities, they can reduce light penetration, limiting aquatic plant growth.

When a bloom dies off, the blue-green algae cells sink and are broken down by microbes. This breakdown process uses oxygen and can decrease the amount of oxygen available in the water for fish and other aquatic life, sometimes resulting in fish kills.

In addition, some blue-green algae species can produce toxins, though this doesn’t always happen and there is no easy way to tell when bluegreen algae are producing them. Floating scums or mats of blue-green algae or opaque “pea soup” water might indicate possible high toxin concentrations if toxins are being produced by that bloom.

People and pets can be exposed to these toxins by swallowing contaminated water, inhaling water droplets or spray (such as during water skiing) or through contact with the skin. Toxin effects include vomiting and diarrhea from ingestion, asthma-like reactions from inhalation and rash from skin exposure.

Animals can have very serious symptoms, including seizures, organ damage and even death if they ingest enough toxins.

WHEN TO SKIP SWIMMING

Know what to look for to decide if a waterbody is safe.

“Usually, if you see water that looks noticeably dirty or discolored, or if there are a lot of tiny particles in it, that indicates there might be a blue-green algae bloom,” said Gina LaLiberte, the DNR’s statewide harmful algal bloom coordinator. “You might want to look for better conditions to swim in.”

Blue-green algae can be especially harmful to young children and dogs, LaLiberte said.

“Young kids aren’t as good at keeping water out of their mouth as an adult or an older child would be,” LaLiberte explained, while dogs often intentionally drink the water.

“For little kids and dogs, you really want to pick the clearest possible conditions for them. And because they have a smaller body size, it doesn’t take ingesting as much blue-green algae to possibly make them sick.”

CLIMATE AFFECTS BLOOMS

Changing climate conditions have an effect on blue-green algae blooms, LaLiberte said.

“If you’ve got really warm water temperatures, the more desirable kinds of algae don’t grow as well, but blue-green algae grow really well,” LaLiberte said.

“We’re also seeing an increase in intense rainstorms in Wisconsin, where you have 1 inch or more of rain falling in a single event. Those heavier rainstorms are a great way for nutrients and sediments to make their way into lakes.

“Those nutrients can fuel the growth of a lot of things, but they can also fuel the growth of bluegreen algae.”

A longer growing season also has an effect.

“If lakes don’t have ice on them well into December or even January, blue-green algae populations don’t die off as fast,” LaLiberte explained. “And then if you have a really short period of ice cover in the winter and you get an early spring thaw, then those blue-green algae get a jump start on growth.

“Those extended growing seasons are really having an effect. And we saw that in 2024 — we had a record number of bloom reports.”

Jonna Mayberry is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.

yes

SAYyes to LAKES

DONATIONS SUPPORT WISCONSIN WATERBODIES

SUMMER IS THE PERFECT TIME TO HIT THE WATER. Not much can beat cooling off in Wisconsin’s lakes, casting a line and spending time with friends and family. Aquatic invasive species can put a damper on summer fun by tangling boat propellers and taking over swimming areas. They can also outcompete native plants and alter wildlife habitats.

The DNR works to better understand aquatic invasive species and their impacts on Wisconsin waters. Thanks to generous donations from the public, the Aquatic Invasive Species Fund supports the DNR’s research to improve aquatic invasive species prevention and management efforts.

“The Aquatic Invasive Species Fund is a sciencebased effort that allows us to collect information relevant to Wisconsin and the concerns we’re facing here, and to focus our resources toward what’s going to make the most impact and help preserve the amazing legacy we have with Wisconsin lakes,” said Michelle Nault, DNR lakes and rivers section manager.

LEFT: Management techniques like mechanical harvesting or chemical application can impact native species as well as any invasives they’re meant to treat, making it important to consider the benefits of using such methods.

RIGHT: Data from DNR fieldwork supported by the Aquatic Invasive Species Fund can help to inform lake management strategies in collaboration with local partners.

Crews are studying well-established existing invasive species in Wisconsin’s lakes and new ones that could make their way into our state. Among the former is Eurasian watermilfoil, an aquatic invasive plant that has been present in Wisconsin since the 1960s.

Eurasian watermilfoil is found in around 700 lakes and reservoirs in Wisconsin, varying from low to high abundance. The nonnative plant grows primarily underwater, but in some lakes, it reaches the water surface to create dense “surface mats” that make swimming difficult and take space and light away from native plants.

Eurasian watermilfoil is spread through fragments, a unique reproductive strategy for aquatic plants.

“That allows it to potentially quickly colonize a lake, where you could have a single plant that breaks up into fragments, and a fragment could float halfway across a large lake and reestablish in a new location,” Nault said.

DATA-BASED DECISIONS

With support from the Aquatic Invasive Species Fund, DNR staff have studied Eurasian watermilfoil’s growing seasons, environmental effects (temperature, ice cover, etc.), long-term population trends, native plant interactions, management types and hybridization with native milfoils, among other topics.

Each summer, crews sample lakes using a standard monitoring protocol to gather important data. The Aquatic Invasive Species Fund makes this fieldwork possible.

“Being able to collect data and understand what’s underneath the water allows us to make betterinformed and better-implemented management decisions,” Nault said.

Over the years, the DNR has learned how and when to use different management techniques while also concluding that sometimes, it’s better not to manage a lake at all.

Commonly implemented management techniques, including mechanical harvesting or chemical application, can also be impactful to certain native plants and animals. Such methods should be reserved for situations where any adverse effects of aquatic invasive species are clear.

Scientists have found that in some waterbodies, Eurasian watermilfoil does not grow to abundances

SNAPSHOT DAY VOLUNTEERS HELP

PROTECT STATEWIDE WATERS

If you’re looking for an active way to help your area’s lakes, rivers and wetlands and learn about aquatic invasive species, volunteer at Snapshot Day on Aug. 9.

Coordinated by UW-Madison Extension in partnership with the DNR and the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, Snapshot Day is a statewide effort to protect Wisconsin’s waters by monitoring sites for invasive plants and animals that may threaten wildlife and water ecosystems.

And it doesn’t stop there, said Emily Heald, UW-Madison Extension rivers educator.

“Snapshot Day also deepens volunteers’ connection to nature by actively engaging with water systems,” Heald said. “By understanding and protecting these systems, we’re not only preserving biodiversity but also ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same natural world we cherish today.”

Volunteers choose a local training site for a brief orientation on identifying invasive species and following search protocols. After training, participants head out to check nearby sites, documenting any potential invasives. The information helps guide conservation efforts and protect Wisconsin’s natural habitats.

Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day is free, requires no experience and provides participants with all necessary equipment. The event is recommended for ages 8 and up; an adult must accompany all minors.

For event details and to register, scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3586.

— EMMA MACEK

that impact recreation or ecology. And while still considered invasive, Eurasian watermilfoil can even provide value, particularly in degraded waterbodies lacking native plant habitat. Like other plants, it also can absorb and uptake nutrients, which can benefit a waterbody.

The DNR uses data when working to determine the best management strategy for Eurasian watermilfoil, collaborating with many local partners to develop long-term and realistic management plans.

STAYING AHEAD

The Aquatic Invasive Species Fund also enables the DNR to research newly introduced aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin’s waterbodies.

For example, starry stonewort is an invasive macroalga that has only been in Wisconsin for about a decade. Research crews are leading an ongoing effort to better understand the ecology and management of this nonnative species.

DNR staff also identified invasive quagga mussels in an inland Wisconsin lake for the first time in fall 2024. They have been in Lake Michigan for many years.

It is essential for the health of our lakes to be able to evaluate and respond to invasive species as soon as they’re detected in the state and proactively study other species that could become established. The DNR lakes and rivers team also works to bring easy-to-interpret findings and information to the public.

“We’re always ready to jump on the next hot-topic issue and ensure we are staying ahead of the game,” Nault said. “There are a lot of invasive aquatic plants and animals knocking at our doorsteps.”

Eurasian watermilfoil primarily grows underwater but also can create dense “surface mats” that block light for native plants and make swimming difficult.

LEARN MORE

Scan the QR code or check dnr.wi.gov/tiny/3576 for details on the Aquatic Invasive Species Fund and to make a donation. You can contribute as little as $2 via the DNR’s Go Wild portal, gowild.wi.gov, or while registering or renewing your boat registration online, with an agent or by mail.

BACK IN THE DAY

IN DOOR COUNTY, CHERRIES ARE STILL TOPS

THERE’S PLENTY THAT SAYS SUMMER IN DOOR COUNTY: a cool bay breeze, crashing waves on a rocky beach, a fiery fish boil, a visit to one of the region’s five state parks. And don’t forget the cherries.

Tart Montmorency cherries have long been synonymous with summertime on the peninsula, dating as far back as the late 1800s. After Swiss immigrant Joseph Zettel experienced success with apple trees, farmers eventually realized Door County’s environment was even better suited for another fruit: cherries.

Shallow, rocky soil that had proven difficult for other agriculture was ideal for cherry trees. And the area’s more temperate climate — with less chance for damage from late spring frost thanks to the effects of Green Bay and Lake Michigan — boded well for the blossoming business.

Early success brought a boom in cherry trees planted at the turn of the 20th century. Within a decade or two, Door County had gained national recognition for its tart cherry crop.

“By the early 1900s, this region was one of the largest cherry producers in the country, and nearly every family had some connection to the industry, whether working in the orchards, the canneries or selling cherry products,” said Amy Frank, executive director of the Door County Historical Society.

Though the number of orchards has declined since its heyday, the Door County cherry industry still stands tall.

Even the Great Depression couldn’t stop the momentum. Marketing efforts, including a weeklong Cherry Blossom Festival with community parades peninsula-wide, kept visitors coming in droves and the demand for area cherries high.

RIPE FOR CHANGE

By the 1950s, Door County boasted some 700 cherry growers producing 50 million pounds of the fruit each year, cementing the region’s nickname as Cherryland USA.

Picking all those cherries at the peak of ripeness, usually mid-July to mid-August, required thousands of seasonal workers. And they came in many forms — local teens, Midwest families, migrant workers, even German prisoners of war one year.

“The annual harvest shaped our communities, brought seasonal workers from all over and put Door County on the map as a top cherry-growing region,” Frank said.

The 1960s brought the arrival of the mechanical shaker, eliminating the need for most laborers. Ripe cherries could be quickly shaken from the tree by machine and gathered for processing, with one shaker doing the work of about 400 people picking by hand.

Soon after, the cherry industry began to see growing competition from other areas, most notably Michigan. In the ensuing years, the bulk of U.S. production shifted away from Door County.

Over time, many of the peninsula’s smaller orchards were absorbed into bigger operations, going from hundreds of growers to dozens to now just a handful of commercial orchards. But the Door County cherry tradition endures.

CONNECTION CONTINUES

These days, a small number of seasonal and migrant workers still support the cherry harvest, but much is automated — from picking to pitting to packaging. Production has dropped considerably from peak years to about 10-12 million pounds of cherries annually, most of them Montmorency.

Use of harvested cherries has evolved, too. In the past, canned cherries perfect for pie filling were the biggest-selling product. Now, dried cherries and juices make up the bulk of usage.

“The industry has changed over the years,” Frank said, “but the connection people feel to Door County cherries hasn’t.”

Festivities may be more muted; there’s just a oneday Cherry Fest each summer in Jacksonport, for example. But cherries remain a big part of what makes Door County special, Frank noted.

“Many orchards have been in the same families for generations, and you can still find people heading out to pick their own every summer,” she said. “Local businesses take pride in using cherries in everything from pies and jams to wine and beer.”

Stopping for a slice of cherry pie is a favorite activity in the region, Frank added, and seeing the cherry blossoms in spring is “one of the most breathtaking sights in Door County.”

Even in winter, cherries can top the list for fun. Every Dec. 31 in Sister Bay, for example, the dropping of a “giant sparkling cherry” welcomes the new year.

In any season, such activities are a reminder of “just how special this tradition is to our community and visitors alike,” Frank said. “Cherries are more than just a crop here, they’re a symbol of our heritage.”

Andrea Zani is managing editor of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

CHERRY GRANOLA COOKIES

Destination Door County’s cherry webpage — doorcounty.com/experience/cherries — features a bucketful of information about the peninsula’s famous fruit, including information on cherry history, where to pick your own and delicious cherry recipes. This tasty cookie recipe is from Scaturo’s Baking & Café in Sturgeon Bay — scaturos.com — and is reprinted with permission. (measures are halved from the original).

INGREDIENTS

½ pound butter (2 sticks)

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup eggs, beaten (about 2 large eggs)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1½ cups oats

1 cup coconut

¾ cup dried cherries

3/8 cup sliced almonds

INSTRUCTIONS

Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar until there are no butter chunks left. Set aside. Mix eggs and vanilla until combined. Set aside. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda until combined. Set aside. Mix oats, coconut, dried cherries and almonds until combined, then combine all ingredients and mix well. Portion out mixed batter onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees. Smaller cookies take 10-12 minutes to bake. Larger cookies take 15-16 minutes to bake. Let cool and enjoy! Makes about 3-4 dozen cookies, depending on size.

watch for

KIDS CORNER wildflowers

SUMMER BRINGS THE SUN, AND THE SUN BRINGS WILDFLOWERS. WHEN YOU’RE HIKING AROUND THIS SUMMER, KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THESE COMMON WILDFLOWERS THAT COLOR WISCONSIN’S LANDSCAPE.

YELLOW CONEFLOWER

ANDI SEDLACEK

TAKE A WILDFLOWER HIKE

Looking for a hike where you can look for wildflowers? Scan the QR code or visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/outwigo/maps to find the OutWiGo exploration map for the area where you live and pick the right hike for you.

What it looks like: Long, slender, vibrant yellow petals gathered around a dark brown, slightly spiky and cone-shaped center. The plant’s leaves and stem have stiff hairs.

Where to find it: Fields, prairies and open woodlands.

When you’ll see it: June through August.

Why it’s cool: In the fall when the yellow petals fall off, you can crush the dried seedhead (the brown center) for a wonderful scent!

wildflowers

COMMON MILKWEED

What it looks like: A cluster of many small, droopy, pink flowers almost in the shape of a ball. The plant has a simple stem with large, oval leaves that have a smooth top and small hairs on the bottom. Bumpy, cone-shaped seed pods develop in late summer, filled with small brown seeds attached to silky white floss that helps them float in the wind!

Where to find it: Fields, meadows and along roadsides.

When you’ll see it: Late June through August.

Why it’s cool: Monarch butterflies and caterpillars love it, and it makes them poisonous! Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed. After the eggs hatch, the growing larvae (caterpillars) eat the leaves, which contain a toxin (poison). It doesn’t hurt the caterpillars but makes them poisonous, even after they change into butterflies, helping them avoid predators.

Andi Sedlacek is communications director for the DNR.

WILD BERGAMOT

What it looks like: Clusters of light purple flowers that resemble pompoms pop up from stiff stems with bright green leaves.

Where to find it: Fields, meadows, prairies and along roadsides.

When you’ll see it: Late June through August.

Why it’s cool: Wild bergamot is also commonly called bee balm and is part of the mint family. In fact, its leaves smell like mint and can be used to make tea.

NEW ENGLAND ASTER

What it looks like: This bright splash of purple sure stands out in late summer and early fall. The thin, vibrant purple petals surround an orangishyellow center, and the whole plant can grow quite bushy and tall — up to 5 feet!

Where to find it: Meadows, prairies, along streambanks and edges of woods.

When you’ll see it: August to October.

Why it’s cool: Deer don’t like to eat them! The plants have a tough texture and not many vitamins and nutrients that deer want, so they generally avoid eating them.

FINDING NUMB3RS IN N8TURE: COUNT FLOWER PETALS!

Some of the patterns you find in nature are more than just artistic and perplexing. Some patterns seem to follow mathematical equations. If you go looking for numb3rs in n8ture, you will find them!

Take Fibonacci (FEE-buh NAA-chee) numbers, for example. In the Fibonacci sequence, each number after the first two is the sum of the previous two numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, . . .

Here's how to play.

Remember to take care of all wildflowers, sketch, don’t pick!

buttercup: 5 petals

2

Count the number of petals on various flowers. Sketch the flowers you find below.

Circle the Fibonacci numbers. Did Fibonacci numbers show up more often than you expected? 1

black-eyed susan: 21 petals

Here are a few of the best reader replies for last issue’s CAPTION THIS deer photo.

“Did you get my good side?” — Erv and Mickey Wilkowski, New Berlin

“You talkin’ to me?” — Chris Teifke

“Not another Snapshot camera!” — Dick Grossenbach

“The paparazzi are everywhere in these woods.” — Paul Henry

“I’ll smell you again in November.” — Justin Neuerbaum

“Smile, you’re on ‘Candid Camera.’” — Cindy Kazmierczak

“Yo, ’sup?” — Don Teifke

“I’m ready for my close up!” — Cindy Gillett

“Hey, you OK in the blind? There are guys shooting out here.” — Robert Teschner, Glendale, Arizona

To see our latest Caption This photo and submit a reply, see Page 2.

ISLAND STATE PARK

I N A SEA OF OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, find an oasis at Brunet Island State Park.

Located in the rolling landscape of Chippewa County, this park is as special as it is unique. The perfect combination of small-town charm and scenic natural beauty welcome Brunet Island State Park visitors to unwind on island time — Wisconsin style!

Although you won’t find fine dining establishments or a five-star resort on the island, the lavish qualities of this hidden gem shine bright.

Brunet Island (pronounced brew-knee) is nestled within the confluence of the Chippewa and Fisher rivers, making it a prime destination for water recreation enthusiasts.

Numerous channels and secluded bays among undeveloped islands in the northern portion of the park are a paddler’s paradise. Direct access to these tranquil waters also means shore fishing opportunities are abundant and fruitful.

For those who stay the night, the park’s more than 60 campsites provide a sweet escape. The North Campground has no electric service, but many of the campsites are situated right on the shoreline of the Chippewa River and its bays.

At Brunet Island State Park, life’s a beach and the park’s swim area is a great place to play in the sand. Pack a picnic — the large day-use area above the beach serves up fantastic views of the Chippewa River to go with your favorite summertime snacks.

A 1-mile hike/bike-only trail links the park entrance to the Old Abe State Trail, a rail-trail that connects Cornell to Chippewa Falls and Lake Wissota State Park.

For a northerly connection, just under 2 miles of the Ice Age Trail passes through Brunet Island State Park on the west side of the Chippewa River. From the park, the trail goes northwest 17 miles to the Chippewa Moraine Ice Age National Scientific Reserve.

Whether you are looking to spend the day or unwind for a weekend, Brunet Island State Park provides the ideal intersection of high-energy adventure and incomparable relaxation.