Dropping a fishing line or starting a camping fire is no longer exactly the simple pastime we may have taken for granted in Wisconsin. Now to make sure we can enjoy the best Wisconsin has to offer outdoors, we must work together to assure that aquatic and insect invasive species do not threaten our wildlife. This effort is the small price we pay to continue to enjoy our outdoors lifestyle and our great heritage of preservation of natural areas.
The threat of the emerald ash borer continues to be a concern, as our neighboring states are dealing with invasion issues. If affected by the insect, Wisconsin's forests and urban green areas will be seriously threatened and substantially changed. Because the emerald ash borer generally is a poor flyer, the main way they move from location to location is through the transportation of firewood.
The "Buy It Where You Burn" rule applies to all Wisconsin parks, national forests and many county parks. Where the rules are not enacted, it still is the smart thing to do to buy from a firewood dealer where you are camping or buy/use wood from the direct area you are camping in. Even on your own land, following this rule will help assure you maintain the condition and value of your land.
It is illegal to bring firewood into Wisconsin from Ohio, Indiana, lower Michigan or Illinois. These states are under a federal quarantine that forbids moving any firewood unless certified by the USDA. Again, buy your firewood where you intend to burn it - we all benefit from Wisconsin's trees.
Protecting Wisconsin's many lakes also requires help from boaters. The aquatic invasive species (AIS) program focuses on five main areas of detection and education: watercraft inspection, monitoring of invasive species, information and education, a citizen-based project that emphasizes using purple loosestrife foliage-feeding beetle species, and the "Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program." Making sure that all aquatic plant material is removed from your boat and trailer before leaving the boat launch must be a part of your boating plan for the day.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a deadly fish virus and an invasive species that has become en emerging threat to Wisconsin's fish. The DNR has a host of rules associated with VHS that can be read at the website www.dnr.wi.gov, but a summary of the rules is: Clean aquatic vegetation from your boat every time, empty all live wells, bait pails, and catch pails of all water before you leave the lake. Using caution and working together will ensure there are still fish swimming in the lake next time you go out to fish.
The threat of the emerald ash borer continues to be a concern, as our neighboring states are dealing with invasion issues. If affected by the insect, Wisconsin's forests and urban green areas will be seriously threatened and substantially changed. Because the emerald ash borer generally is a poor flyer, the main way they move from location to location is through the transportation of firewood.
The "Buy It Where You Burn" rule applies to all Wisconsin parks, national forests and many county parks. Where the rules are not enacted, it still is the smart thing to do to buy from a firewood dealer where you are camping or buy/use wood from the direct area you are camping in. Even on your own land, following this rule will help assure you maintain the condition and value of your land.
It is illegal to bring firewood into Wisconsin from Ohio, Indiana, lower Michigan or Illinois. These states are under a federal quarantine that forbids moving any firewood unless certified by the USDA. Again, buy your firewood where you intend to burn it - we all benefit from Wisconsin's trees.
Protecting Wisconsin's many lakes also requires help from boaters. The aquatic invasive species (AIS) program focuses on five main areas of detection and education: watercraft inspection, monitoring of invasive species, information and education, a citizen-based project that emphasizes using purple loosestrife foliage-feeding beetle species, and the "Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program." Making sure that all aquatic plant material is removed from your boat and trailer before leaving the boat launch must be a part of your boating plan for the day.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a deadly fish virus and an invasive species that has become en emerging threat to Wisconsin's fish. The DNR has a host of rules associated with VHS that can be read at the website www.dnr.wi.gov, but a summary of the rules is: Clean aquatic vegetation from your boat every time, empty all live wells, bait pails, and catch pails of all water before you leave the lake. Using caution and working together will ensure there are still fish swimming in the lake next time you go out to fish.
