Pests of the forest - UW-Madison Extension Forestry

Our forests are continually threatened by both native and non-native species that can impact the health of individual trees and an entire stand. Below are descriptions of many of these plants, animals, insects and diseases, and ways you can manage your forest to minimize their impact.

Insects

Emerald Ash Borer – The Green Menace (PDF)
Produced by: US Department of Agriculture
Publication number: USDA-1769
Keywords: symptoms, prevention

Forest Management Strategies to Minimize the Impact of the Gypsy Moth (PDF)
Produced by: UW-Madison Department of Forest Ecology and Management, 1997
Publication number: Forestry Fact 83
Keywords: gypsy moth, insect, defoliation, protection

Gypsy Moth & Management (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2008
Publication number: FR-405
Keywords: gypsy moth, forest health, insect, identification, treatment, control

Gypsy Moth Silvicultural Guidelines for Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FR-123
Keywords: insect, gypsy moth, forest management, protection, defoliation, impacts

Gypsy Moths: Identifying and Managing Gypsy Moth Caterpillars (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FR-171B
Keywords: gypsy moth, insect, identification

Gypsy Moths: Selecting a Pesticide for Gypsy Moth Control (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FR-171D
Keywords: gypsy moth, insect, pesticide

Homeowner Guide to Emerald Ash Borer Insecticide Treatments (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: XHT1181
Keywords: Emerald ash borer,treatment, insecticides

How to Manage Jack Pine to Reduce Damage from Jack Pine Budworm (PDF)
Produced by: USDA Forest Service
Publication number: NA-FR-01-94
Keywords: jack pine, disease, management

Identifying & Managing Pine Pests in Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension, 1988
Publication number: G3428
Keywords: pine, protection, identification, insects, growth, disease, control

Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer (PDF)
Produced by: The Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer Program
Publication number: CEABP1
Keywords: treatment, insecticides

Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Noxious Insects, Plants and Wildlife (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3564
Keywords: identification, safety, protection, wildlife, ticks, insects, poison ivy, wild parsnip

Pine Engraver Bark Beetle (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: insect, bark, pine, control, prevention

Spruce Budworm Management (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FHP-10
Keywords: budworm, control

Treating Gypsy Moths with BTK (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: DNR3
Keywords: gypsy moth, insect, pesticide

Tree Defoliation in Forests & Woodlots (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2004
Publication number: FR-220a
Keywords: defoliation, causes, impacts

Diseases

Annosum Root Rot: Biology, Symptoms, and Prevention (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: disease, roots, rot, red pine, white pine, fungus, prevention

Armillaria (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: fungus, roots, rot, stressed trees, control, prevention

Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Eastern Forests and their Ecosystem Functions (PDF)
Produced by: USDA Forest Service, 2017
Publication number: NRS-79
Keywords: fungi

How to Identify, Prevent, and Control Oak Wilt (PDF)
Produced by: USDA Forest Service, 2011
Publication number: NA-FR-01-11
Keywords: disease, oak wilt, management

How to Identify White Pine Blister Rust and Remove Cankers (PDF)
Produced by: USDA Forest Service, 1977
Keywords: disease, white pine, management

How to Recognize Common Diseases of Oaks in the Midwest (PDF)
Produced by: USDA Forest Service
Publication number: NA-FR-01-15
Keywords: oak, disease, identification

Lake State Woodlands: Oak Wilt Management-What Are the Options? (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension, 2001
Publication number: G3590
Keywords: oak, forest management, disease, protection, risk, prevention, control

Protect Your Trees From Oak Wilt (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2009
Publication number: FR-127
Keywords: disease, woodlot, building

Tree Defoliation in Forests & Woodlots (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2004
Publication number: FR-220a
Keywords: defoliation, causes, impacts

Invasive Plants

10 Ways to Protect Your Woodland Property (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2005
Publication number: FR-313 2005
Keywords: fire, trespass, boundaries, safety, wildlife damage, timber harvests, invasives, water quality, soil, forest health, scenic beauty

A Field Guide To Terrestrial Invasive Plants in Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2010
Publication number: FR-436
Keywords: invasive, control, spread, identification

Common and Glossy Buckthorn (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FR-216
Keywords: threats, identification, spread, control, buckthorn, invasive, non-native, exotic

Common Terrestrial Invasive Plants in WI (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2010
Publication number: FR-456
Keywords: invasive plants, NR40

Controlling invasive plants using the cut stump method (PDF)
Produced by: Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin
Keywords: invasive, control, management, herbicides, stump

Garlic Mustard (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: FR-350
Keywords: identification, control

Herbicide Effectiveness on Invasive Plants In Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension, 2012
Publication number: A3893
Keywords: herbicides, plants, invasives

Herbicides for Forest Management (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: herbicide, weed control, forest management, planting

How to Hire a Contractor for Land Management Activities (PDF)
Produced by: UW-Extension and the Aldo Leopold Foundation, 2009
Publication number: Forestry Fact 105
Keywords: contractor, forester, logger, forest management, wildlife management, vegetation management, online resources, estate planning, consultant

Invasive Plants in Forestry – Management Guide for Buckthorn (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: IPIF-1
Keywords: spread, control, native alternatives, regenerating

Invasive Plants in Forestry Management Guide for Honeysuckle (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: IPIF-2
Keywords: spread, control, native alternatives, regenerating

Invasive Plants in Forestry Management Guide for Japanese Barberry (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Publication number: IPIF-3
Keywords: spread, control, native alternatives, regenerating

Management of Invasive Plants in Wisconsin: Common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: A3924-02
Keywords: identification, spread, control

Regulated Terrestrial Invasive Plants in WI (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2010
Publication number: FR-464
Keywords: invasive plants, NR40

Wisconsin’s Forestry Best Management Practices for Invasive Species PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2009
Publication number: FR-444
Keywords: Best Management Practices, invasive species, management, BMP

Wisconsin Manual of Control Recommendations for Ecologically Invasive Plants (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources
Keywords: Invasive, control, management

Wildlife

An Introduction to Wildlife Damage Management (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-002
Keywords: wildlife habitat, wildlife damage

Bear Damage and Abatement in Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3300
Keywords: wildlife habitat, bear

Beaver Damage Control (PDF)
Produced by: WI Department of Natural Resources, 2005
Publication number: WM-007
Keywords: beaver, wildlife damage

Controlling Deer Damage in Wisconsin (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3083
Keywords: wildlife habitat, deer

How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence (PDF)
Produced by: Purdue University
Publication number: FNR-486
Keywords: fencing, deer, exclusion, seedlings

Meadow Mouse Control (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: A2148
Keywords: wildlife habitat, meadow mouse, tree damage, rodent

Mole Control (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3200
Keywords: wildlife habitat, mole, damage

Rabbit Ecology and Damage Management (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-004
Keywords: wildlife habitat, rabbit damage

Raccoon Ecology and Damage Management (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-005
Keywords: wildlife habitat, raccoon damage

Skunks: How to Deal with Them (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3273
Keywords: wildlife habitat, skunk, biology, control

Tree Squirrels in Wisconsin: Benefits and Problems (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3522
Keywords: wildlife habitat, squirrel, identification, biology, control

Wildlife Damage Management: Laws and Regulations (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-001
Keywords: wildlife habitat, wildlife damage, laws

Woodchuck Ecology and Damage Management (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-007
Keywords: wildlife habitat, woodchuck damage

Woodchucks: Their Ecology and Control (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3505
Keywords: wildlife habitat, woodchuck, identification, biology, control

Woodpecker Ecology and Damage Management (PDF)
Produced by: UWEX Cooperative Extension
Publication number: G3997-008
Keywords: wildlife habitat, woodpecker damage