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Endangered Species have their day on May 15.

By: By Susan Foote-Martin, DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources

MADISON - A quick quiz to test your knowledge of Wisconsin animals and plants: Which of the following are listed as state endangered species?

If you picked all but c) and d) give yourself an A-plus. If your score was less than perfect, state conservation officials hope you will take a little time this week to learn about and appreciate some of the many endangered and threatened animals, plants and insects in Wisconsin.

“People in Wisconsin value the quality of our abundant natural resources,” said Signe Holtz, Director of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Endangered Resources. “Endangered Species Day brings attention to our wildlife and wild places and what can be done to promote their conservation, and celebrates our many successes.”

Holtz said the Endangered and Threatened Species listing is only a first step toward identifying a problem. The real work follows with creating a management plan to aid the recovery of the listed species.

“In Wisconsin we help protect and manage native animal species and the habitats they depend through a network of State Natural Areas,” said Holtz. “These properties protect native communities and are often the last refuge in the state for rare species of all kinds.” Holtz noted that the State Natural Areas program started in 1952 “and as of this year we have 600 properties that preserving entire biological communities for future generations.”

Holtz cited some of the recent accomplishments across the state, including the recovery of the gray wolf and the successful reintroduction of the trumpeter swan.

“Working closely with businesses, organizations and citizens we went from zero trumpeters to 130 pairs in less than 20 years, and delisting of the species is on its way. Our partners and volunteers have played a significant and critical role in banding roundups, rescue of sick and injured birds and their rehabilitation.”

Other species that have been brought back from the brink are bald eagles, osprey and peregrine falcons.

For the past seven years, students at Madison’s Edgewood High School have constructed platforms for the Forster's tern recovery program. These artificial nest platforms keep the birds safe from predators and fluctuating water levels and are used on Lake Puckaway in Green Lake County and on Big Muskego in Waukesha County.

Thousands of Higgins Eye pearly mussels, a state and federally listed endangered ve been propagated at the Genoa fish hatchery in Wisconsin for release into the Mississippi River and tributaries as part of a cooperative effort by the Wisconsin DNR with the Minnesota and Iowa DNRs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Army Corp of Engineers.

“Our successes are a testament to the dedicated people who work with endangered and threatened species,” Holtz said. She highlighted the commitment and generosity of Wisconsin citizens in ensuring Wisconsin has abundant fish, wildlife and natural areas for future generations. “We depend on the public to assist us with our work, as many imperiled species live on private lands. We are very grateful for many public and private partnerships that help us reach our goals.”

Individuals and groups can volunteer to work with staff on state properties or find citizen-based monitoring opportunities featured at Citizen-Based Monitoring Network of Wisconsin [exit DNR]. Wisconsin residents can also support the endangered resources programs through the purchase of Endangered Resources license plates, or by donating on-line. More information on the Endangered Resources Program is available on the DNR Web site.

Activities to do today and everyday

Here are some everyday actions state Endangered Resources program staff say people can take to help protect our most vulnerable native species and natural areas:

Learn about endangered species in your area

• Check out our Endangered Species Day pages.
• Learn about rare and endangered resources near you.

Visit a State Natural Area or discover a segment of the Birding and Nature Trail

• Visit a State Natural Area near you.
• Hike a segment of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.

Protect habitat for fish and wildlife by removing non-native vegetation

• The spread of non-native, invasive species has greatly impacted native populations in Wisconsin and around the world. Invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat.
• Learn more about Invasive Species threats in Wisconsin.

Minimize use of herbicides and pesticides

• Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are often hazardous to wildlife. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain. Some groups of animals, such as frogs and other amphibians, are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants.

Place outside bird screens or streamers on windows to deter bird collisions

• Hundreds of millions of birds die every year because of collisions with windows! You can help reduce the number of collisions by placing specially designed bird screens or streamers on the outside windows at your home and office. Bird screens are sold at many stores that carry supplies for wild birds; streamers should be shiny and reflective to prevent birds from striking windows. For more information on how to prevent bird collisions with windows, go to the Natural Resources Magazine article.

Slow down when driving

• Many native animals have to live in developed areas and this means they must navigate a landscape full of human hazards. One of the biggest obstacles is that created by roads. Roads divide habitat and present a constant hazard to any animal attempting to cross from one side to the other. When you're out and about, slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife.

Report any harassment or destruction of threatened and endangered species to the DNR

• Harassing wildlife is cruel and illegal. Shooting, trapping, or forcing a threatened or endangered animal into captivity is also illegal and can lead to a species’ extinction. Report the activities as soon as you see them. Call the DNR violation hotline at 1-800-TIP-WDNR.

Support the Wisconsin Endangered Program in one or more of the following ways:

• Purchase an Endangered Resources License Plate for your vehicle -- When you purchase a special Endangered Resources License Plate, your fee includes an annual $25 tax deductible donation to this Program.
• Provide a nest egg for the Trumpeter Swan Fund - Donations to the Trumpeter Swan Fund are used to cover costs of aerial surveys, health checks, other monitoring activities, and public education efforts.
• Adopt an eagle's nest - When you adopt an eagle nest, you can help ensure that bald eagles are back to stay in Wisconsin for all future generations to see and enjoy.
• Donate directly to the Endangered Resources Fund on line through a secure Endangered Resources Donation page of the DNR Web site or by sending a check to: Endangered Resources Program, Wisconsin DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Signe Holtz, (608) 264-9210 or Susan Foote-Martin (608) 266-0545

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Northern zone musky season opens May 23

MADISON - It may be hard to top last year’s record haul of trophy muskies, but anglers wanting to try should target some of Wisconsin’s largest musky waters in 2009.

Last year’s parade of monsters reaffirms that if you want to catch a big fish, you should fish big waters, says Tim Simonson, the fish biologist who leads the Department of Natural Resources’ musky team.

“We know that the ultimate size of fish – how big they grow – is higher in larger lakes,” Simonson says.

Anglers who chose to register their 2008 catch with Muskies, Inc. reported catching a record-high 89 fish 48 inches or greater from Wisconsin waters, with 29 of them 50 inches or larger. That’s up from 58 total fish 48 inches or greater registered in the previous year.

Nearly one third of the 2008 fish reported to the Musky Inc. registry came from the big waters Green Bay, the Fox River, or Lake Michigan. Another big water, the Chippewa River, in 2008 produced a new world fly rod record for a released fish on a 36-pound tippet for the 51.25-inch musky Hayward resident Brad Bohen caught Oct. 16, 2008. The Chippewa Flowage, an unnamed Vilas County lake, the Wisconsin River, the Holcombe Flowage in Chippewa County and Green Bay rank among the top 50 waters in the number of 50 inch and greater fish registered with Muskie Inc. since 1970.

Lake size explains nearly 70 percent of the observed variability in the ultimate length musky reach, Simonson says. This relationship predicts that lakes larger than 2,000 acres typically support populations more likely to produce fish that will, on average, reach or exceed 50 inches, he says.

This relationship also predicts that lakes down to 100 acres (and lower) are capable, biologically, of producing 40 inch or larger fish, Simonson says. They may give up trophy fish on rare occasions, as DNR fish crews found earlier this month when they captured a 50.7-inch fish on Sherman Lake, a 123-acre walk in-access only lake in Iron County.

Scientists don’t fully understand yet why musky grow to a larger size in larger waters, Simonson says, but it’s likely related to the type and availability of forage in the big waters.

It’s also likely related to the fact that it’s easier for musky to elude capture in a bigger water. “When a fish lives 15 to 20 years, the chance of it being caught several times are pretty good, particularly in smaller waters,” he says. “Every time it’s caught, there’s a chance it could be injured during handling even if it’s released.”

Lists of musky lakes and rivers in Wisconsin, including their size and classification as trophy waters or action waters, can be found on the DNR Web site.

Seasons open May 23 in northern zone and Lake Michigan including Green Bay

The musky season opens May 23 in Wisconsin north of U.S. Highway 10, excluding Wisconsin Michigan boundary waters, and runs through Nov. 30. The daily bag limit is one and the minimum length limit is 34 inches is most waters. Check the 2009-2010 fishing regulations for special regulations on some waters.

Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters open for musky fishing on May 15.

Lake Michigan waters north of Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc open for musky fishing May 23. Included in this season are the Bay of Green Bay, the Fox River upstream to the DePere dam, Sturgeon Bay and other bays to Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The daily limit is one, the minimum length limit is 50 inches, and the season closes Nov. 30.

The Lake Michigan season for musky south of Waldo Boulevard in Manitowoc is already open. It runs May 2 through Dec. 31 and the daily limit is one. There is a minimum length limit of (**Correction**) 34 inches.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Simonson (608) 266-5222;

Wisconsin Muskellunge Fast Facts

A world-class fishery…

• Wisconsin lawmakers named the muskellunge the official state fish in 1955.
• More world records have been landed in Wisconsin than anywhere else.
• The state and world record is a 69 lbs, 11 oz. fish taken from the Chippewa Flowage. Also credited to Wisconsin is the world record hybrid musky, 51 lbs, 3 oz. from Lac Vieux Desert.

Found in most parts of the state…

• Fishable populations of musky are found in 711 lakes and 83 streams in 48 counties. The heaviest concentration of lakes with musky is found in the head water regions of the Chippewa, Flambeau, and Wisconsin rivers.
• Roughly half of Wisconsin’s musky waters are Class A waters, which support good muskellunge populations and provide the best fishing. About 77 percent of the musky waters in Wisconsin are sustained through natural reproduction. Some stocking is carried out in about 180 of Wisconsin's musky waters.
• Musky densities are very low, even in the best waters, because muskies are large top predators that tend to choose vulnerable spawning sites. Good musky waters average one adult fish for three surface acres, compared to up to 20 adults per three surface acres in good walleye lakes.

With more anglers catching more fish and bigger fish faster…

• Musky fishing continues to grow in popularity. The number of participants has more than quadrupled over the last 50 years.
• An estimated 456,000 anglers pursued muskellunge in Wisconsin in 2001, the latest year for which survey results are available.
• Catch-and-release, protective regulations and DNR’s stocking program have helped turn the famed fighter from the “fish of 10,000 casts” into the fish of “3,000 casts” in Wisconsin. It used to take two guys in a boat 25 hours to catch a fish. Now it is closer to 12 hours and 3,000 casts each.
• In the latest year for which survey results are available, anglers in 2006 reported catching 223,101 musky and keeping 12,493, for a 95 percent release rate.
• More anglers are landing trophy fish than a generation ago, based on reports from Muskies Inc. members. In 2008, members reported catching 89 fish 48 inches and greater. That’s up from the average over the past decade of about 29 fish over 48 inches.

More information on muskies and musky fishing in Wisconsin is available on the musky page of the DNR Web site.

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National Safe Boating Week May 16-22

Recent drownings tragically reinforce safe boating message: Wear It!

MADISON – The drowning last week of two men on a northwestern Wisconsin lake just prior to National Safe Boating Week tragically reinforces what state boating safety specialists say is the key message of this national observance: Wear It! Wear your life jacket.

“There are so many reasons people give for not wearing life jackets,” says Cathy Burrow, who works with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources boating safety program. “‘It’s too hot!’ ‘It doesn’t look cool.’ ‘I know how to swim.’ ‘Nothing is going to happen to me.’ But with 20 drowning deaths in Wisconsin last year and now four confirmed drownings already this year, it’s pretty clear there are no good excuses for not wearing a life jacket.”

The theme of the 2009 National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 16 through 22, is “Wear It!” [exit DNR] and the campaign is focused primarily on getting people to wear life jackets, along with encouraging safe and responsible boating, staying alert, aware and sober while on the water, and taking boating safety education classes.

“Much like a helmet to a biker or skate boarder, life jackets are an essential part of boating safety equipment and should be worn at all times while on the water,” Burrow said. “Life jackets are no longer the orange, hot and bulky vests of years gone by, new innovations and developments have produced a smaller, sleeker, and much more comfortable version of a life jacket, leaving you with no reason not to wear them.”

Modern life jackets, also called PFDs or personal flotation devices, allow more mobility and flexibility for boating, fishing, paddling and hunting and are much cooler in the warmer weather.

Of the 20 boating fatalities in Wisconsin last year, 80 percent were not wearing their life jackets. Neither of the two men who drowned early in the morning of May 7 after their boat overturned on Lake Wapogasset in Polk County were wearing life jackets. A woman who was with the men had a life jacket and was able to reach shore and survived.

In addition to wearing life jackets, Burrow suggests that all people operating boats should take a boating safety course. The course is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1989, to legally operate a boat on Wisconsin waters. Direct classroom instruction from volunteer instructors is offered across the state. Information on classes can be found on the upcoming classes [exit DNR] and locations page of the DNR Web site. In addition two online courses are available (see accompanying story).

More information about boating safety and boating safety education is available on the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Burrow – (608) 266-8597

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New online boating safety course is available

Now three convenient options to get this life-saving training

MADISON – A new online boating safety course can help young boaters meet state requirements to legally drive a boat -- and can help boaters of all ages stay safe on the water this summer, Wisconsin recreation safety officials say.

“This new course provides another opportunity for people to get trained and educated in the boating safety techniques and information that just may save their life,” says Todd Schaller, Department of Natural Resources recreation safety chief.

“We now offer three convenient options to choose from – two online courses and hands-on classroom instruction - so people can find something that best fits their schedule and their learning styles.”

Wisconsin law requires that anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1989 must pass a boating safety course to operate a motorboat on Wisconsin waters. However, the DNR recreational safety specialists recommend that all boaters take the course to learn the rules and responsibilities of operating a boat.

The vast majority of boating accidents and fatalities on Wisconsin waters every year involve operators who have never taken a boating safety course. In 2008, 19 of the 20 people killed in boating accidents on Wisconsin waters had never taken a boating safety education course. Operator inexperience, inattention, recklessness, and speeding are the four leading causes of these tragic accidents.

The new boater safety course is called BoaterExam.com and is offered by a company of the same name. It features many eye-catching animations and the ability for students to choose to hear the material as well as read it on the screen, making this course a good choice for younger students, says Cathy Burrow, recreational boating specialist.

The “Boater Exam” joins BoatEd, the other online course that DNR provides through a private contractor. BoatEd has recently been updated to include animations, video and true stories of boating survivors.

The third option is classroom option provided by the DNR’s corps of seasoned boating safety instructors. All three options cover the same material.

Learn more about each of these three options online, including a schedule of courses offered in the classroom on the boating safety education page of the DNR Web site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Schaller (608) 267-2774

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Anglers should reap the rewards this season from trout stream restoration projects

MADISON – For great trout fishing this summer, anglers will want to check out a recently released report detailing new trout habitat improvement projects on more than 100 miles of streams in 35 counties, Wisconsin fish biologists say.

Such habitat projects often lead to eye-popping increases in fish populations at the habitat improvement sites, particularly a few years after work has been completed.

A recently released report on inland trout stamp revenue expenditures from 2004 – 07 details how $5,222,564 in trout stamp funds were spent, where habitat work was done, and summarizes projects that took place in 35 counties.

“Many anglers seek out streams with habitat work, knowing that good fishing will likely be found there,” says Larry Claggett, Department of Natural Resources coldwater fisheries ecologist. “And since it takes a couple of years for the fish to respond, anglers should really start seeing the benefit of an improved fishery from projects in this timeframe.”

Since 1978, anglers have had to purchase a trout stamp (now $10) to fish inland waters, with the funds going to restoring and improving trout habitat. Overall, the DNR fisheries program has restored more than 750 miles of trout stream, and each year, maintains many miles of previous habitat work and keeps more than 750 miles free of beaver dams in northern Wisconsin.

There is also a significant amount of revenue from general fishing license fee sales that supports inland trout habitat work. During 2004 to 2007, nearly an additional $1 million was spent on improving Wisconsin’s inland trout streams.

Gilbert Creek in Dunn County is great example of habitat work well received.

In-stream trout habitat improvement projects completed on Gilbert Creek resulted in restoration of more than 2.5 miles of outstanding native brook trout water with densities up to 6,000 per mile, of which 700 per mile exceed the legal length limit of eight inches.

“The trout stamp program is very successful and directly benefits the angler,” Claggett says. “Our goal is to make sure the trout are healthy, have good habitat and increased natural production, and that anglers have a great fishing experience. The program is as strong as ever thanks to trout anglers continued commitment to the sport and purchase of trout stamps.”

Angler looking for more information on where the habitat work was completed can purchase a private book; Todd Hansen’s 2008 “Map Guide to Improved Trout Waters of Wisconsin”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Claggett, fisheries biologist, (608) 267-9658.

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Winners of 2010 Trout Stamp Design Contest announced

MADISON – With 28 brilliant displays of color and movement, it wasn’t easy choosing the winners of the 2010 Trout and Salmon Stamp Design contest. But two paintings hooked the judges and won the honor of appearing on next year’s edition of the stamps.

John Nemec Jr. of Peshtigo was the winner of the 2010 Great Lakes Trout and Salmon Stamp with his painting of multiple, sun-glistened chinook salmon making their way through the water, with one taking the bait.

For the 2010 Inland Trout Stamp, Craig Fairbert of Ladysmith nudged out the competition with a painting of a vibrant brook trout striking at a lure in a gravel-bottomed stream.

Craig Fairbert of Ladysmith, Brook Trout

Virgil Beck of Stevens Point was first runner-up in the Great Lakes Trout and Salmon Stamp contest with a coho salmon in a kaleidoscopic of blue, followed by second runner-up Arthur Anderson of Onalaska with his jumping chinook salmon.

First runner-up for the 2010 Inland Trout Stamp and a second win of the day was John Nemec Jr. with his golden brook trout rising to a fly. Larry Sieler of Laona took second runner-up with his battling brown trout.

Images of all six entries can be found on the Trout Stamp page of the DNR Web site.

The trout stamp design contest runs every year as it has for the past 30, even as electronic issuance of fishing licenses means the actual stamp is no longer required on the licenses. Instead, there’s a notation indicating which stamp privileges the license holder has purchased, if any. The actual stamps featuring this year’s winning images will be available March 1, 2010, and can be purchased by visiting the Bureau of Customer Service and Licensing in Madison or calling toll free 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463).

Wisconsin residents are invited to submit original artwork to be considered for the Great Lakes Trout and Salmon Stamp and the Inland Trout Stamp. Entries are accepted from February 1 of the contest year and must be postmarked no later than March 31.

Trout stamps are required by all anglers fishing inland waters for trout or fishing the Great Lakes for trout or salmon. Revenues from the sale of stamps restore, maintain and enhance Wisconsin’s trout and salmon fisheries.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Claggett, fisheries biologist, (608) 267-9658.

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Spring is the time to find and control garlic mustard

MADISON – Native wildflowers race to grow quickly each spring before trees fully leaf out, blocking out the sunlight. Unfortunately, in the last few decades native plants across the Midwest have been losing the race to a non-native highly invasive competitor: garlic mustard.

“Garlic mustard is winning that race in more and more woodlands,” notes Kelly Kearns a native plant conservation specialist with the Department of Natural Resources. “The fast growth and high seed production have made this plant imported from Eurasia able to outcompete our native wildflowers and even young trees.”

Kearns says observant gardeners will also notice that it is becoming widespread in urban lots, both in the shade and even in full sun at times. In order to keep this plant from spreading all property and home owners need to learn how to identify it and help control it on their own lands.

“Just one plant,” Kearns said “allowed to go to seed, can infest an entire neighborhood or wooded park.”

Also known by the scientific name of Alliaria petiolata, garlic mustard is a biennial herb that ranges from 2 to 40 inches in height as an adult flowering plant. Second-year plants generally produce one to several flowering stems with numerous white flowers that each have four petals.

Garlic mustard can easily be recognized at this time of year by of its lush rounded basal leaves with scalloped edges and because it is the only plant of its height in forests that produces white flowers in the spring. If in doubt, crush and smell a leaf. If it smells like garlic you have found garlic mustard. By mid-June the flowers will develop seed pods that can disperse hundreds of seeds per plant. Even if pulled out of the ground while still flowering, garlic mustard flowers can continue to develop and produce seeds.

Kearns says landowners working to contain this plant have to remain vigilant, as the seeds can stay dormant in the soil for up to seven years before germinating.

“People should search through their entire property several times a year to catch new infestations and keep them from flowering and going to seed,” she said.

For small populations, Kearns says, hand pulling is the best way to remove the plants. If they have started to flower, gather the plants and bury or burn them where allowed, or bag them up to send to the landfill in bags labeled “Invasive Plants – Approved by WDNR for landfilling”.

Larger populations can be knocked back with a string line trimmer, but this must be done several times in the growning season as they will resprout. Most land managers with larger populations carefully spot treat garlic mustard populations with herbicide. There are several herbicides that can be effective, including glyphosate, triclopyr and 2,4–D. Kearns advises anyone using herbicides to read the label instructions before applying them and be careful not to apply to any plants they want to keep.

In the southern part of Wisconsin garlic mustard seedlings are just recently emerging from the soil. Flaming with a propane torch is a technique that can be fast and effective to kill the seedlings, but is less successful with the older flowering plants. Torching is best done when the ground is wet, or even during a light rain to prevent any accidental fires.

“Once people learn to identify garlic mustard,” Kearns said, “they will probably start to think they are seeing it everywhere, especially in southern counties. But there are still many forests and entire regions of the state that are not yet infested. In those areas careful monitoring can spot new populations and quick action to control the plants will save landowners many hours of pulling this very aggressive plant.”

Photographs and more information about garlic mustard and other invasive plants is available on the invasive species pages of the DNR Website and the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin Web site [exit DNR].

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Kearns (608) 267-5066.

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Demolition of buildings by burning can release asbestos and other hazardous materials

MADISON – The spring construction cleanup season has arrived and with it may come the need to demolish an unwanted building to make way for something new.

Landowners or contractors looking to demolish an old building are being cautioned against just putting a match to it. State environmental officials say it is not only illegal to burn a structure, it could also be a very unhealthy way to remove it.

“Unless you are a fire department, it is illegal to intentionally burn buildings in Wisconsin. The only exception is a fire training burn, conducted by a fire department,” said Amy Walden, statewide asbestos coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources.

Fire department burns

Fire department burns may only be conducted on standing structures that offer some training value. Buildings cannot be burned for the sole purpose of waste reduction or by anyone other than a fire department, re-emphasized Walden.

State law requires a pre-inspection for asbestos by an inspector licensed by the state Department of Health Services (DHS). Whether or not the inspector finds asbestos, DNR and DHS must be notified.

Fire departments conducting a fire training burn must wait 10 working days after they mail a DNR notification form before they can burn in order to allow DNR and DHFS to inspect the building, if it is determined to be a priority.

Asbestos inspections can cost as little as $350 per inspection with samples running about $15 - $25. The responsibility of inspection and removal costs (should asbestos be found) ultimately falls on the property owner.

“We are trying to educate and spread the word about asbestos regulations. Education is the preferred approach because penalties for violating air pollution regulations can range up to $25,000 per day, per day of violation,” Walden says.

DNR wardens can also issue a citation carrying a maximum $1,500 forfeiture for either failing to pre-inspect or notify DNR of the demolition, fire training burn or renovation, he added.

If asbestos is found, all of it must be removed before the fire training burn. Once the burn is over, cold ash and debris must be disposed of in a state-licensed landfill.

Certain landfills can accept asbestos. Officials recommend contacting a contractor for removal of asbestos containing materials. Contractors specializing in asbestos removal are able to remove the material safely and will know where and how to safely dispose of the debris. Contact a DNR office near you for more information and to learn about safe asbestos removal.

What is concern with Asbestos?

Human health is one of the many reasons why state environmental and health officials require that they be notified about commercial renovation and demolition projects. That’s because renovating or tearing down a building that harbors asbestos can release fine particulates into the air, placing the health of workers and the public at risk.

Asbestos is a known human carcinogen (cancer causing) material and exposure to asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. Medical studies of asbestos-related diseases suggest that there is no safe level of exposure (a threshold) below which there would be no chance of disease.

Most forms of asbestos burn at 2,732 degrees F (1,500 degrees C), so asbestos fibers will not be consumed in a typical training burn.

“The majority of materials that contain asbestos will combust and release the unburned fibers into the air,” Walden says.

Some of the asbestos will remain in the ash, to be released into the air when the ash is disturbed, she added.

Asbestos is found in more than 3,000 building materials, including boilers, heaters, piping, electrical equipment, flooring and water heaters. It is also found in range hoods, roofing, siding and many other building materials.

Other materials commonly found in buildings may also pose environmental or health problems if burned or improperly disposed. These include lead in paint, pipes, batteries, mercury in thermostats or switches, PCBs in capacitors or specialty paints and CFCs in refrigerators or air conditioners. Many building components such as doors and windows can be salvaged for recycling or reuse. Please contact local organizations for more information on how to reduce your disposal costs by salvaging building components.

More information is available on the asbestos page of the DNR Web site, including a “Demolition Recycling Resources - Pre Demolition Checklist [PDFNR]” and “Training Burns: A guide in the Process of Fire Training”.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Walden at 608- 266-3658 and for recycling Cynthia Moore at 608-267-7550

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Grants available for forest and wildland fire suppression

MADISON - Local fire fighting agencies have until July 1 to apply for a Department of Natural Resources grant program for suppressing forest and wildland fires. This program provides fund on a 50-50 cash match basis.

Local fire departments and county or area fire organizations can apply for Forest Fire Protection Grants, which were established in 1997 to strengthen local fire departments’ and county or area fire organizations’ capabilities to assist the DNR forestry staff in suppression of forest fires.

The grant program provides funds for the purchase of forest fire suppression equipment and training, including: personal protective equipment (clothing must meet NFPA 1977 standards); forest fire training; forest fire prevention, forest fire tools and equipment; communication equipment; rural fire mapping and numbering; and off-road all-wheel drive initial-attack vehicles.

Applications were mailed recently to Wisconsin fire organizations statewide and are also available on the DNR Web site. FFP applications must be postmarked on or before July 1, 2009.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Eileen Trainor - (608) 267-0848; Chris Klahn - (608) 297-2214