Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Cicadas have now been emerging for two weeks in Wisconsin, and these periodic insects are often misunderstood. So, we're here to clear up a few common misunderstandings. 1. Cicadas don't sing using their mouths like other insects or animals. Male cicadas make their songs using a pair of rigid membranes (called tymbals) on their abdominal segment. The hollow abdomen of a male cicada can act as a resonating chamber, making their songs extremely loud. 2. Cicadas don't sting or bite and have minimal lasting impact on plants. Adults feed by sucking plant fluids from deciduous trees and shrubs, but mature plants can usually survive even the densest emergences of cicadas without permanent damage. 3. Only Brood XIII cicadas, with a 17-year life cycle, can be seen in Wisconsin. These are not invasive; their native range includes the state's southernmost counties. Records back to the mid-1800s show emergences along the southern border.

Want to try fishing this Free Fun Weekend, June 1-2? Borrow some gear for free at a tackle loaner site. There are almost 60 fishing tackle loaner sites across Wisconsin, with about half of them located at state parks. At most of these sites, you'll find basic equipment like rods and reels, bobbers, hooks, lines and sinkers. Learn more and find a tackle loaner site on our website: https://lnkd.in/gHzEcmPg On Free Fun Weekend, you can explore it all with state park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes waived. If you're fishing, remember that all bag and size limits, species restrictions and all other regulations apply.

The DNR's Air Management team, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a number of Milwaukee-area organizations, is setting up a study to provide publicly available, real-time air sensor data in a Milwaukee community where a variety of air pollutants have been monitored for decades. This project is designed to identify areas where air quality disparities exist and help identify mitigation options that can be locally implemented to resolve the disproportionate impacts. To learn more about the DNR’s initiatives to enhance environmental justice efforts and address climate change, visit https://lnkd.in/gEfE8T8e

Have you ever wondered how certain land and water areas get prioritized for habitat conservation? The answer is driven by data! For Wisconsin waterfowl, a broad range of data points, from wetland proximity to seasonal distribution, are compiled to prioritize areas that, if conserved, will have the most positive impact on local populations. Currently, a study led by the DNR’s Amy Shipley seeks to make this model even more comprehensive by adding additional data points into the mix. “We recently updated the model using data from the community science project eBird, which tells us which areas in Wisconsin have the largest numbers of ducks,” Shipley said. She says it’s important to keep in mind, though, that just because a wetland has lots of ducks doesn't necessarily mean it's the best habitat for producing and maintaining healthy populations. “We are also collaborating with researchers at UW-Stevens Point who are using drones and a heat-sensing camera to count ducklings even in thick vegetation," she said. "This will allow us to confirm whether the areas that we have identified as priorities for conservation are also the most important for maintaining populations.” You can learn more about Shipley's research on our website: https://lnkd.in/ggf-4uST

Two monumental laws – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – are providing billions of dollars for various climate change-related initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting clean energy and enhancing climate resilience. Projects include grid modernization, electric vehicle infrastructure and clean energy projects like the Clean School Bus program. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding approximately $500 million in rebates to fund the replacement of existing school buses with clean and zero-emission school buses. So far, Wisconsin school districts have received 72 electric buses and 10 propane buses with this funding. Learn more about funding and grant opportunities on our Clean Air Month webpage: https://lnkd.in/eDHvg72.

Looking forward to having some extra time on your hands over the long weekend? Fill some of it up by browsing the DNR's job opportunities and applying! Head to wisc.jobs, then click Search by Agency and choose Dept of Natural Resources to find all of our current openings.

Meet Chris, one of last year's lucky elk hunters. Chris was the first elk hunter to harvest an elk with a longbow since elk were reintroduced to the state. He was excited when he found out his name was drawn in the elk lottery, and he knew he wanted to hunt with his longbow. Chris likes the challenge of hunting with a longbow. "To shoot any animal with a traditional bow is very, very difficult," Chris said. "You need to get within 20-25 yards for a decent shot and wait for the right angle." To hunt with a traditional bow, you have to get inside their very close bubble and make the shot happen. "I have to rely on my skill and my ability to beat their senses. That challenge is important to me," he said. He also said it helps him feel like he has a stake in the hunt. Chris hand-crafted the arrows he used on his elk hunt. Talk about commitment to getting the most out of this very special hunting experience. If you are a hunter who likes to challenge yourself, consider applying for the elk application period this year. The application period runs until May 31 and is the only way to get a chance at hunting elk in Wisconsin. This year, authorizations will be drawn for both herds, so don't miss this unique opportunity! Find more elk hunting info on our website: https://lnkd.in/gsuEtT7Q

Congratulations to fifth grader Xeonobia Diaz of Samuel Clemens School in Milwaukee for taking first place in the annual Air, Air Everywhere poetry contest! Here's her winning poem: I AM YOUR SISTER...YOUR CARETAKER I was born to be fresh and clean. I was born to move like a wave. My sound is like a beating heart. I am meant to smell beautiful like a forest. You don’t see me, but you will know when I’m missing. I am sad to say to my human family, “Your actions have taken me for granted. You have put too much smoke, smog, and pollution in my air, which has made me sick, and that is not fair!” So thank you to states like Wisconsin who are setting standards to clean my air. Thank-you to the lawmakers who are passing more green laws so that everyone will care. Plant more trees because they are the lungs of our Earth! They create oxygen and clean the air so well, we will never forget their worth! Know that I am strong and desire to be free. You will not get rid of me! So let’s come together and save our air. Be a good neighbor, no matter where! Clean air is a human right for all so everyone step up and answer the call! Thank you to all who participated. View the other winning poems on the DNR’s website: https://lnkd.in/df-BD9s

Wisconsin’s wild turkey population is one of our state's greatest wildlife management success stories. That may sound strange now since you can hear a gobble anywhere from downtown Madison to a farm outside Menomonie, but that hasn’t always been the case. In the 1800s, unregulated hunting and disease from domestic birds decimated our wild turkey population, with the last known wild turkey spotting happening near Darlington in 1881. We needed to wait almost 100 years, until 1976, to see one inside Wisconsin borders again, when 29 wild turkeys from Missouri were successfully reintroduced to Vernon County. Thanks to mindful management, funded in large part by turkey hunters themselves, wild turkeys are now abundant and roam every county in Wisconsin. Our spring turkey harvests rank among the largest in the nation. The structure of our turkey hunting season is a big reason for this success. It’s divided into six one-week periods across seven management zones. This allows wildlife experts to manage harvest across time and space to maintain long-term management goals, ensuring that Wisconsin holds a healthy turkey population for generations to come.

The DNR stocked over six million fish in Wisconsin waters in 2023, and the final summary of what species were stocked where is now available. Stocking helps boost natural fish populations where natural reproduction can no longer support the fishery, maintain or restore existing fisheries and support recreational fishing opportunities. Stocking is also used to evaluate management actions or fish culture techniques. Learn more about the fish stocked in inland waters and the Great Lakes: https://lnkd.in/dFawwFuH