Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Looking for an outdoor weekend plan in early June? Consider attending a local fishing clinic during Free Fishing Weekend, June 6-7. During Free Fishing Weekend, residents and nonresidents can fish without a fishing license, inland trout stamp or Great Lakes salmon stamp. Remember all other fishing regulations still apply. This includes bag limits, size limits and species restrictions. These often vary depending on the species and waterbody. What about regulations? Yes, check them as you plan your outing. Need help reading the regulations? That’s where a free fishing clinic or event can help. Your local bait and tackle shops also know where the fish are biting! Search the DNR Events Calendar for fishing clinic locations and see what is happening near you. https://lnkd.in/gsQ_FbNp Photo Credit: Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports

We are seeking proposals from local organizations that are interested in providing concession services at Yellowstone Lake State Park in Blanchardville, Wisconsin. Services could include food services/restaurant, camp store, small convenience items, ice cream, coffee or baked goods. This Yellowstone Lake State Park concession has been a visitor-favorite pitstop for half a century. The stand was first opened by Lafayette Dairy Sales as a walk-up, carry-out ice cream, soda and malt shop. Over the years, visitors have stopped by to enjoy a sweet treat and a beautiful view. Interested parties can be nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Written comments can be submitted until May 21 at 4:30 p.m. Proposals are due May 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. Have specific questions or want to submit a proposal? Contact Konrad.Plachetta@wisconsin.gov. Find more detailed proposal information and additional photos on our VendorNet listing: https://lnkd.in/du9zfXCk

Today, May 15, is Endangered Species Day! Wisconsin is home to thousands of native species of animals, and 497 of those are considered at risk. This includes species like the little brown bat, which has faced massive declines due to white-nose syndrome, the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly and rusty patched bumble bee, as well as nearly half of Wisconsin’s 50 native mussel species. Support from our many partners and people who give to the Endangered Resources Fund help support Wisconsin’s at-risk species. One example of the work to help these species is our recent research on wood turtles, a Wisconsin threatened species, which are rare and can be tricky to spot. With donations to the Endangered Resources Fund and a federal grant, researchers have been working to understand their populations and habitat preferences in Wisconsin and across the Upper Midwest. These data will help protect and restore their habitat across their range in the coming years.

The idea of tying hunting and angling to conservation might be nothing new to people who hunt and fish. And supporting fish and wildlife management with money from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery and fishing equipment has been happening for decades via historic Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson legislation. So where do recreational shooters fit in the picture? Turns out, they’re actually front and center, an important part of keeping conservation efforts and wildlife management moving forward and properly funded. “Hunters are a big part of the equation, but it’s recreational shooters who are purchasing firearms and a good amount of the ammunition,” said Brett Johanen, the DNR’s statewide public shooting range manager. DNR shooting ranges offer safe and structured locations for firearm users to practice, learn and enjoy shooting activities – and contribute to conservation. Learn more about DNR shooting ranges and how recreational shooters support conservation in the latest issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine: https://lnkd.in/g4f8WM6V

Passionate about public service and looking for an office with no walls? Apply now to become a DNR conservation warden. The application period closes May 14. Conservation wardens are law enforcement officers whose mission is to protect our natural resources and the people who use them. Wardens are skilled in education, enforcement and community involvement. The DNR provides comprehensive paid training for all new warden recruits. No prior law enforcement experience is required. Visit our recruitment website to learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dNMqJw5

Warming temps and wet weather aren’t just good for spring flowers, they're also the perfect conditions for something a bit more unusual – slime mold! This unique organism, classified in the Protist kingdom, can suddenly appear as a colorful blob on things like mulch or an old stump. Yesterday, nothing. Today, blob. In its most dramatic stage, called the plasmodium, slime mold builds a network of tubes that look like veins, allowing it to pulse itself towards food. It can move up to an inch per hour as it consumes mostly bacteria found in and on wood. Slime molds appear in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, and they often have odd names, like "chocolate tube" or "dog vomit" (really!). They help tidy up the forest floor as they recycle decaying organic matter back into the food web.

Spring is here, along with fresh new merch in our online shop. Check out new posters, tees, crewneck sweatshirts and more: https://lnkd.in/eH5sQuQF Not seeing your size? Don't worry – we'll restock soon 😉

This Clean Air Month, DNR staff are sharing information on how Wisconsin’s air quality is measured. We have resources and tools deployed throughout the state to learn more about air quality and we want to share them with you! To learn more about air quality monitoring in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Air Monitoring page: https://lnkd.in/dDb2jew. This webpage is filled with information on the DNR air quality monitoring network and air quality sensors for community-based monitoring. Visit our Air Quality Mapping tool (available on the Air Quality Monitoring webpage) for near real-time air quality information you can use to learn more about the air quality in your area. While reviewing the map, you can click on any monitoring location to learn specific information about the site, including a site photo and what each monitor measures.

Going with the flow takes on new meaning in thermal imaging, captured by a DNR drone, that shows how cooler water from a tributary disperses into a larger, warmer stream. Shown in a light yellow, the cooler tributary flows from the lower left. It empties into the larger, darker yellow stream near the center of the frame, and mixes with the warmer water as it flows to the right. This kind of imaging helps DNR research scientists understand how water temperature variation and stream flow may affect populations of Wisconsin’s native brook trout and other species; it’s just one aspect of a multiyear project investigating how trout respond to environmental changes over time. Unlike the vivid, eye-popping colors seen in Hollywood versions of thermal imaging, this sepia thermal palette helps the research team study specific and often subtle aspects of a waterway’s fluid dynamics.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the Shooting Range Grant Program through Aug. 15, 2026. The grant program provides financial assistance for safe and accessible firearm or archery recreational shooting opportunities for the public. Ranges operating as a for-profit business are not eligible for funding. The shooting range grant funding is made possible by a federal excise tax on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment through the Pittman-Robertson Act. More information about applying, eligible items and resources can be found on the DNR website: https://lnkd.in/gmS86Nxc