Ash Tree Removal Temporarily Closing Forest Exploration Center In Tosa

WAUWATOSA, WI — Trees impacted by the invasive emerald ash borer species are set to be removed from the Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa by mid-June, officials announced Thursday.

As loggers are set to harvest timber from the site starting by Wednesday, the property's trails, lot and entrance road will be closed, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The exploration center's website notes it will be closed from June 12-16. Further updates can be found on the center's website.

If there's a silver lining to trees being removed because of an invasive species' impact, the DNR said the removal of dead and dying ash trees will give an opportunity to watch forest regeneration.

“The openings in the forest canopy created by the removal of the ash trees will provide the space and sunlight for new tree seedlings to become established and grow,” said Mike Sieger, a DNR forester stationed on the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, in the news release. “This harvest will promote a healthier forest today and into the future while also protecting site visitors.”

The property located off Swan Boulevard comprises 60 acres of forest and is owned by the state. Trees there are monitored to ensure the health of the forest, and dead or dying trees could pose a recreational hazard, said DNR District Forestry Leader Eric Zenz in the news release.

The species prompting the damage, emerald ash borer, has been detected in the majority of Wisconsin's 72 counties and was first detected in the state in 2008, the DNR said.

“We’re facing the same challenges on this site as homeowners and landowners throughout the state who have had ash trees impacted by emerald ash borer,” said Zenz in the news release. “While homeowners and local municipalities may elect to protect individual trees from attack by emerald ash borer with the use of insecticides, this is not a financially feasible option for forests.”

The exploration center is made up of one of the largest wooded tracts still in Milwaukee County with 65 species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers and over 150 bird species calling it home, the news release said.