Mornin' to everyone wondering about the Monroe manure spill that caused a mile-long fish kill. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

• The periodical cicadas are here!

• Run, bike, and paddle through the Northwoods

• Bad spring for allergies 🤧 

Periodical cicadas arrive early than we thought

Sorry to bring up the creepy crawlies again, folks, but soon you won’t be able to ignore ‘em.

The periodical cicadas have finally reemerged after 17 years, and truly, it’s something to behold!

Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew

• Brood XIII, which has been underground since 2007, will emerge over the next 2 weeks

• Cicada broods emerge by the trillions, supplying a great food source for the ecosystem

• Cicada’s “call” is among the loudest in the bug world, at 120 decibels

Cica-da heck is going on out ‘der?

Last week we briefly covered Brood XIII, the cicada horde that will be emerging heavily in southern WI over the next two weeks.

A resident of Lake Geneva sent an email of these insects to the DNR, and they confirmed that they were indeed Brood XIII cicadas.

Now, why the heck should you care?

Some scientists liken the emergence of the cicada to solar events like eclipses, in that you only get to experience them a few times in your life.

Brood XIII has been underground for 17 years, feeding off of sap and waiting for the soil conditions to be just right to reemerge.

Yes, they’re loud and they will fall on your car and/or new haircut, Sheryl, but hey—they’re only gonna be here for about 4 to 6 weeks!

Cicada fun facts

So we can all get to work on time, here’s the rundown on these critters:

• Periodical cicadas hide underground as nymphs, feeding and hiding from predators

• They’ll emerge once the soil temp reaches 64ish degrees, typically around May/June

• They feed on tree sap, both below and above ground

• Cicada broods provide a great food source for birds, fish, turtles, mammals, and more

• Cicada males make loud, synchronized calls to establish territory and attract females

• These calls are among the loudest in the bug kingdom at 120 decibels—the strength of a rock concert

• You can eat these “tree shrimps” with the right recipe

• Cicadas are some of the oldest living insects and symbolize rebirth and immortality in folklore

• They do not bite or sting and are essentially harmless to humans and crops

• Cicadas are naturally antibacterial, due to unique wing nanopillars that kill bacteria on contact

How to get out ‘der

Again, this will only happen a few times in your lifetime, so try to enjoy the quirkiness of our planet!

If you want to experience these cicadas, start checking out Cicada Safari to see where they are being sighted.

UW-Madison also has as great resource for locating these critters.

UW will be hosting a Cicada Palooza on June 8th (though we can’t find a link! If you have the info, please send it over so we can share it next week).

Finally, read up on how to distinguish everyday cicadas from periodical cicadas.

Thanks for reading, now get out ‘der!

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Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Well, we have some smart cookies in the audience. 55% percent voted correctly: Wisconsin ranks 4th in Lyme disease cases per state. A slight clarification: Wisconsin ranks 5th in per capita incidence rates and 4th in overall Lyme disease cases, behind New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🚗 Endangered species plate rebate: The DNR is celebrating National Endangered Species Day (May 17, 2024) by offering a $25 rebate for new purchases of Endangered Resources license plates now through Dec. 31, 2024. These plates, which have been sold for 30 years now, have helped conservation efforts for 400 species of animal life, and 300 species of plant life. Help the cause and save a buck!

🚴 Bike, run, and paddle in the northwoods: What if you ran a race, but didn’t know where the finish line was? That’s the whole idea of adventure racing! The Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge challenges racers to work together with maps and compasses to figure out where da heck they’re going. This year, the event will be held in the “greater Racine area,” and is open to 500 racers. Intrigued? Check it out!

🤧 Bad year for allergies: “It's worse because it started earlier, I would say.” That’s board-certified allergy immunologist Dr. Eric Schauberger on this spring’s allergies conditions. Since the climate is warming and spring starts sooner, pollen-producing plants have more time to, well, produce. One study found that pollen production increased 21% between 1990 and 2018 nationwide. Check here for daily conditons.

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Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… That’s the whole heckin’ goal!