Your Wisconsin Outdoor Community

Protecting Wisconsin from Gray Wolves

In 2022, gray wolves were relisted under the Endangered Species Act in a misguided and not-backed-by-science federal effort to increase their populations. However, a report by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that there are over 1,000 wolves in Wisconsin – well above the state’s population goal of 350.

There is no question that the gray wolf population is inflated in Wisconsin. The population spike has had catastrophic effects on our state with wolves attacking farmers’ livestock and families’ household pets, and shrinking deer and other wildlife populations.

There was a time where we needed to protect and recover the gray wolf, but now we are well beyond a manageable population in Wisconsin. That is why I joined my colleagues in introducing the Trust the Science Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support last week, to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and return population regulations back to those who know best – the individual states.

Wisconsin’s farmers should be able to protect their livestock and hunters should be able to carry out their role as effective and responsible stewards of wildlife without federal government overreach. I’m proud to see the Trust the Science Act pass out of the House and hope to see it make its way through the Senate and to President Biden’s desk so we can return to responsible, scientifically backed wildlife conservation policy.

Sincerely,

Rep. Derrick Van Orden
Serving Wisconsin's Third District

Emerald Ash Borer Detected In
Washburn, Taylor Counties
 

A mature green emerald ash borer crawls on the bark of a tree.
Emerald ash borer has been detected in Washburn and Taylor counties for the first time, leaving only one Wisconsin county without a positive detection. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has detected the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) for the first time in Washburn and Taylor counties. Burnett is now the only county without a detection since EAB was first discovered in Wisconsin in 2008.

DNR staff members collected larvae samples in the town of Springbrook and the city of Medford. A USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service identifier confirmed these larvae as EAB.

The detections will not result in regulatory changes because EAB was federally deregulated on Jan. 14, 2021, and Wisconsin rescinded its statewide quarantine effective July 1, 2023.

EAB will continue to spread in northern Wisconsin, significantly impacting the state’s ash resource. This is a good time to review the DNR’s updated EAB webpage for information and resources on this invasive species and the EAB Silviculture Guidelines to understand ash management options.

For those looking for treatment options, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s EAB webpage provides information on insecticide treatment for ash shade trees.

The DNR, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and tribal partners continue to track EAB’s spread. Detection information aids in EAB readiness planning, management and biological control activities.

With 66 new municipal detections already reported in 2024, map updates continue to occur regularly. Visit the Wisconsin EAB Online Detections map to see where EAB has been found in Wisconsin or to report new detections.

https://datcpservices.wisconsin.gov/eab/index.jsp

Upcoming Ice Fishing Events 2/13/24

Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk

Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake

Feb 24th – Winter free fishing contest – Any Lake – Sponsored by County Line Station

Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc

Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
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