Spring Wildfires, Allergies and Critters Emerge

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – Easter weekend will be hopping with pollen, showers and some storms but reducing the fire risk and springing vegetation into action.

Showers will start to spark up Thursday afternoon. Ramping up into the evening, thunderstorms are also likely. Some could be severe and most will bringing a hefty 1/2″ to 1″ of rainfall, the dried out vegetation is thirsty.

Over the past few months we’ve had over 500 wildfires in Wisconsin. Which have burned over 2,000 acres of our beautiful land and woods…from state parks to prairies. Parts of Wisconsin still remain in a drought and a high fire risk.

“Spring is the number one season for wildfires in the Midwest. That’s coming off winter, grass is brown, we get warmer, it gets breezy and that coincides when people are cleaning up their yards. Debris burning is the number one cause.” explained Amy Penn from the Wisconsin DNR. “The longest and biggest wildfire season is now, it starts in March and goes through the end of May, even longer in the woods.”

While the upcoming rain will help the risk. It’s also bursting pollen from budding trees and making allergies flare up.

As the winds whip this into our deteriorating air quality, it exacerbates our symptoms. Research says that, on average, the pollen season is about three weeks longer now than it was 50 years ago. You can thank climate change for intensifying our allergies with a longer growing season. More and more particles are being produced and released and for longer. 

Another thing that is happening right now which is rather magnificent, a massive bird migration. Millions upon millions of them flocked north just over the past week. It can be seen on radar right now. A true sign of Spring arriving in the state.

You can also expect some critters to start popping out too, From ticks to bugs and bees. Some areas in the state don’t even cut their grass in May!

Check this out! The Marshfield Clinic in Central Wisconsin actually wants you to collect ticks and send them in for research. Because as you know, these creepy crawlies are prone to carrying diseases and they are already out. Recently, the lone star tick and the brown dog tick have been found. When before, those were typically only seen in warmer climates, now, they are being spotted up north. Those spread diseases like the meat allergy and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Spring is sprung, remember to use bug repellent and sun protection outside!