It’s summer, it’s Wisconsin, and it’s practically a requirement that you spend as much time as you can outside.
But nothing is perfect, and the warm-weather pleasures of picturesque sunsets, refreshing lake swims and quiet forest hikes sometimes come hand-in-hand with wildlife that can bite us, insects that can sting and sicken us, and plants that can poison us.
Fortunately, a little basic sense and some insider tips can help us avoid the perils of Wisconsin’s outdoors — or at least deal with the effects of ill-fated encounters. One valuable resource on that front is a free 40-page booklet from the University of Wisconsin-Extension titled “Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Insects, Plants, and Wildlife.”
Authors Scott R. Craven, Phillip J. Pellitteri and Mark J. Renz offer straightforward, engaging and sometimes amusing advice about dealing with the many hazards people may encounter while out and about.
Some of their advice is well known — use insect repellant to keep mosquitoes away, for example. But other tidbits might surprise: The short-trailed shrew’s saliva is venomous! Don’t worry too much, though — being bitten by shrew isn’t fatal. Just expect “painful swelling.”
Here are four strategies for safe summer fun from “Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin.”
Beware Wisconsin’s ticks and stinging insects
They’re small, relentless and everywhere.
If you are going to be afraid of something on your outside adventures this summer, be afraid of ticks, hornets and other stinging insects. They may be small, but they can cause a lot of damage.
Let’s start with ticks. Deer ticks are the only known carrier of Lyme disease in Wisconsin, a potentially debilitating disease that is becoming more common in the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. In 2023, the state recorded 6,379 cases of Lyme, a record. The number of reported cases has tripled over the past 15 years.
The good news is that the disease is preventable. It takes about 24 hours of feeding for a deer tick to transmit the disease, so it’s important to remove any ticks that may have latched onto you as soon as possible. “Routine total-body checks should become a daily ritual,” Craven, Pellitteri and Renz advise. If you experience flu-like symptoms or a spreading rash appears around a tick-bite site, see a doctor.
Better yet, prevent the ticks from getting to your skin in the first place. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants (with cuffs tucked into socks or boots) when heading into woods and grassy areas were ticks thrive, the authors recommend, and spray repellents containing DEET or permethrin on clothes, focusing on socks, pants and shoes.
Stings from bees and wasps of all kinds are painful, and for the 1% of the population who are allergic or have other serious reactions, they can be deadly, according to “Outdoor Hazards.” People who have those serious reactions should carry medical kits at all times during spring and summer, the authors write.
Those who don’t have those serious reactions can treat the swelling and pain of stings with ice or cold compresses. Using a household meat tenderizer on the site also can reduce pain and help neutralize the venom.
Be particularly cautious of yellow jackets from early August through September. They are attracted to food, sugary drinks and garbage cans during this time.
Other tips to help avoid bee and wasp stings: Don’t wear perfumes, lotions or cosmetics when wasps or bees might be a problem; don’t walk barefoot outside; avoid outdoor cooking during the yellow jacket season; if a bee or wasp lands on you, stay calm and gently brush it away. Sudden movements increase your the chances you’ll get stung, according to the book.
Give a wide berth to coyotes, wolves and black bears
Wolves and black bears have been the baddies in folk tales throughout history, and coyotes don’t have great reputations in pop culture, either. But how much should we fear them in real life? Not much, but people should still be very cautious around these animals.
Black bear
“Coyotes have become a concern in some urban and suburban areas in Wisconsin,” Craven, Pellitteri and Renz wrote. “They have been known to kill cats and small dogs and may attack larger dogs.” Keep pets under close supervision, they advise, especially in areas where coyotes are known to frequent.
Attacks on people “is low, but it does exist.” Keep close eye on young children, especially in more populated areas where coyotes have displayed little fear of humans, or where attacks on pets have been documented.
“In the presence of a coyote, shout, make noise, or throw something in its direction,” the writers say, and call authorities to report coyote problems or encounters.
Wolves in Wisconsin mostly live in the state’s Northwoods, according to the writers, but there have been sightings in the south, as well. Wolves are mostly a danger to livestock and pets, they wrote, noting “there have been documented attacks on humans in North America, but they are very rare.”
The potential for conflict between wolves and humans is increased “by ill-advised feeding and other human activity that causes wolves to lose their fear of people,” they wrote. “It is legal to protect domestic animals on your property, and it is legal to protect yourself and others anywhere if threatened with a wolf attack.”
Again, the authors recommend calling local authorities if you come across an aggressive or fearless wolf.
Like that of wolves, the black bear population is growing, and they have been expanding south in Wisconsin. They’re big and powerful and “capable of injuring or killing humans,” but attacks are rare. “When an attack does occur, it generates headline news, resulting in a distorted perception of the true risk posed by bears,” Craven, Pellitteri and Renz wrote.
In the rare case a person is attacked by a black bear, the authors say pepper spray might prove effective. Don’t climb a tree to get away from the bear, because it’s very likely it can climb better than you.
“Most experts recommend that you vigorously fight back against an actual attack,” Craven, Pellitteri and Renz wrote.
Watch out for two kinds of poisonous snakes, and grumpy turtles
An eastern massasauga is among the venomous snakes at the Milwaukee County Zoo’s Aquatic and Reptile Center. Of the Zoo’s 18 snake species a few are endangered Wisconsin natives, including two timber rattlesnakes and two eastern massasauga snakes.
As a group, the reptiles of Wisconsin aren’t too worrisome. But they are definitely not cuddly.
“While some snakes are harmless and others can deliver a painful bite,” Craven, Pellitteri and Renz wrote, “only two of Wisconsin’s 20-plus snake species are venomous.” Those are the timber rattlesnake and the massasauga, or swamp, rattlesnake. The likelihood of encountering either in Wisconsin is “very slim.”
The timber rattler is a protected species, and it can grow to 4.5 feet or more. These snakes mostly live in the rocky, hilly, cliff areas along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers in the southwestern part of the state. Take care when hiking or hunting in these areas and “be extremely cautious about where you place your hands and feet when you climb around rocks or walk near thick brush piles, fallen trees, and woodpiles,” the guide counsels.
The massasauga is small to medium sized and lives primarily in low, marshy or swampy areas in west-central Wisconsin. It is an endangered species and rarely seen. But it does have lethal venom, and people have died after being bitten (though there is no record of this happening in Wisconsin).
If bitten by either of the rattlesnakes — easily identified by the tell-tale rattles — get medical help as quickly as possible.
Turtles are relatively harmless, although they all have claws and strong jaws, according to the authors. “Any turtle of more than baseball-size diameter can deliver a bite that is painful.”
Snapping turtles have a nasty reputation. It’s common to hear tell of them biting off people’s fingers or toes. That’s bunk, according to the guide. But if you come across a snapper on land, the authors warn that “they are very aggressive out of the water!”
Keep well away from its head. And while they move slowly, all turtles have long necks and heads, and those can move rapidly when they are provoked.
Don’t touch these two poisonous Wisconsin plants
Poison Ivy, the three-leaved plant is seen at the Eddy Discovery Center in Chelsea, Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Poison ivy is a member of the cashew family, according to “Hazards of Wisconsin,” but it won’t be found in the snack aisle. It’s a low, woody shrub or a climbing vine, and it’s annoyingly found just about everywhere, according to the booklet: “in pastures, road banks, fencerows, parks, beaches, campgrounds and damp forests, especially along rivers.”
Heed the old saying, “Leaves of three, let it be.” Poison ivy is divided into three leaflets, connected directly to the stem of the plant. All parts of poison ivy contain oils that causes skin irritation to about half of people who come in contact with it. It causes itching, dermatitis and blistering, followed by scabs, according to the booklet. It’s also toxic all year, meaning that even dry, fallen leaves are poisonous.
If exposed to poison ivy, wash the exposed area with water and regular or special soap (such as Tecnu) as soon as possible, the booklet advises.
Poison sumac is another plant to avoid. It grows as a shrub or small tree, ranging in height from five to 25 feet, in wet areas. Poison sumac looks similar to the common sumac that often is found along highways, but instead of red berries, the poisonous variety has greenish-white berries.
Poison sumac produces greenish-white berries.
Treat poison sumac as you would poison ivy. Wash as soon as possible with regular or specialized soap.
Keith Uhlig has been writing about Wisconsin, its people and all it has to offer since 2000. Raised in Colby, he loves wandering around the state. He can be reached at kuhlig@gannett.com, and is on Facebook, X and Threads.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Beware these dangerous plants, animals in Wisconsin in the summer