Menominee County requires oak-cutting permits from April 1 to October 1

Menominee County requires a permit to cut or trim oak trees from April 1 through October 1 each year. Storm-damaged oaks may be cleaned up without one if residents report the work to the department.

All other tree species may be cut without a permit at any time, but oak trees are treated differently because cutting during the warm season can help spread oak wilt, a fungal disease that attacks oaks. Residents can call 715-799-5710 or email jeremyj@co.menominee.wi.us to confirm whether a tree is an oak or whether a job falls inside the restricted period.

Town of Menominee Ordinance #46 says no person shall cut, trim, or prune oak trees in the Town of Menominee during the restricted period without first obtaining a written permit from the town, and it includes a penalty provision for anyone who ignores the restriction.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says oak wilt is a fungal disease first documented in Wisconsin in 1944. It is widespread in southern Wisconsin, common in central Wisconsin, and still uncommon in northern Wisconsin, but it kills thousands of trees each year in forests, woodlots and urban areas. State oak-harvesting guidance sets restricted periods at April 1 through July 15 in the southern zone and April 15 through July 15 in the northern zone, with the high-risk period able to start earlier if temperatures stay above 60 degrees for seven straight days.

A 2009 land and water resource management plan was prepared by the Menominee County Land Conservation Department, the Land Conservation Committee and the Menominee Nation Environmental Services Department, and it identified Jeremy Johnson as the county’s Conservationist/Forester. A 2020 invasive species management plan was signed by County Board Chairperson Laure Pecore and Tribe Chairperson Joan Delabreau.