State Forestry officials are launching a major census of Wisconsin's State Parks. Forestry specialist Teague Prichard says the Department of Natural Resources is trying to measure the types of trees, wildlife, and overall health of the forest land it maintains.
The DNR oversee nearly 512-thousand acres of state-owned forest land. Prichard says it's important to keep track of what's on that land, so the state can react to any potential threats. He says the risk of invasive species, disease, and environmental threats means the state needs to be able to track what's happening over time. Prichard says the census will make that possible.
The statewide census will be one of the most comprehensive in the nation. The DNR hopes to complete the initial work over the next six months.