Restoring Lands: A Wisconsin Land Trust

06/12/2026

Thank you to the Ozaukee Press for covering our restoration project at Sauk Creek Nature Preserve! Read the article to learn more about what's going on in the woods at Sauk Creek.

The Sauk Creek Nature Preserve in Port Washington — a peaceful oasis created in 1994 by what was then the newly formed Ozaukee Land Trust as its first sanctuary — is the focus of a multi-year restoration project intended to help improve the forest and habitat. The project focuses on increasing d...

06/11/2026

We love to see our four-legged friends on the trail! 🐾 Especially ON LEASH! Pets can carry seeds and plant material in their fur and paws, and off leash can become a threat to wildlife or endanger themselves. Pets are welcome on most of our preserves, but only leashed.
Before and after visiting:
🐶 check paws and fur (for seeds & ticks)
🥾 brush off boots
🎒 clean gear and clothing
🐕‍🦺 please keep dogs on leash!

Thank you for protecting native plant communities and your pet. Help prevent the spread of invasive species by inspecting yourself, pet, and gear to protect the natural areas we all enjoy! 💚
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06/10/2026

Thank you to TMJ4 News Ozaukee County Reporter, Alex Gaul, for featuring the story of our Bio Blitz and fight to keep power lines off preserved land. Read/watch the story here:

A nonprofit land trust in northern Ozaukee County is pushing back against a proposed power line route that could cut through one of its protected preserves — land it has held in trust for public use.

06/10/2026

Happy 🐟🦐🦋🐝Restoring Lands hosted a Bio Blitz on our County Line Preserve last week! We collected so much great data about the insects, fish, and plants that live on the land. Our staff led volunteers to check funnel traps, snake boards, and explore the land. Our Field Coordinator, Camden, went snorkeling in the pond to find fish and identify the vegetation down under. 🐟

We also had TMJ4 OZ County Reporter Alex join us to learn about our work, and the big reason we hosted this Bio Blitz. We are trying to collect data of rare endangered species, important to the local ecosystem to help our legal case as we challenge the data center power lines that threaten the conserved lands.

06/10/2026

Scenes from the Sauk Creek Walk & Talk we hosted last week! Restoring Lands’ Restoration Manager Christine Bohn led the group around the preserve and discussed the big restoration project underway. We received funding to do a large scale invasive species removal using a forestry mower to take out a dense swath of invasive trees and shrubs over 3 acres. Then we’ll be planting over 500 native trees and shrubs. This conserved land is so important for the Lake Michigan bird flyaway, and preserving urban forest.

Thanks to all the neighbors, Ozaukee Co locals, longtime supporters, and new friendly faces for attending the event. You can read more about the project on our blog at https://restoringlands.org/sauk-creek-project/

06/09/2026

We're so excited for this event! Our Staff Bird Pro, Kira, will be attending and helping support the bird walk.

🌈Happy Pride from the Zoological Society of Milwaukee!🌈

The Zoo is for everyone. This month, we honor and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community as we bring all members of our Zoo-loving family together to support our organization and our shared commitment to conservation. The Society and the Milwaukee County Zoo believe that thriving communities bring people, wildlife and wild places together.

To celebrate Pride, the Society is hosting "Let's Go Birding Together" — an inclusive birding event at the Zoo that welcomes all who identify as LGBTQIA+, allies, families and anyone else who wants to enjoy a day of birding at the Zoo.

The event will start off with an informative presentation on birding and bird conservation that will then be followed by a birding tour around Zoo grounds. This event is free with regular Zoo admission, and there will be binoculars available for you to use on the walk!

Pre-registration is required for this event. To learn more, check out our event calendar: https://www.zoosociety.org/events/lets-go-birding-together/

06/09/2026

It’s Awareness Week! 🥾🌱
Seeds, mud, and plant fragments can travel from trail to trail via your boots! Before and after your next hike, take a few moments to brush off your boots, clean your gear, and remove mud and debris. These simple actions help protect forests, grasslands, wetlands, and trails from the spread of invasive species.

Help protect the special places you love! Thanks to our stewardship staff for modeling their beautiful clean boots 🥾 .clean.go

06/09/2026

Thank YOU Land Restoration School!! We're so grateful for our partnership with this super important and awesome nature education program. We've made many great connections because of you all.

06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day! 🌲🌅🥾🌾
If you’re looking for places to explore this summer, we’ve got great recommendations. These are our staff’s favorite hiking trails at our nature preserves. Each preserve has unique features that make them very special, and remind us why we do this work. Check them out this summer! 💚

Donges Bay Gorge contains a large gorge through the middle of the preserve and beautiful views of Lake Michigan. (Mequon)

County Line Preserve is special for its glacial topography, with eskers (as seen in the photo), and beautiful untouched nature with a pond, creek, prairie and woods. (Saukville)

Huiras Lake Natural Area is a big preserve with a pretty big lake. It has open hiking trails, and a beautiful wetland forest on the way to the lake. (Fredonia)

Kurtz Woods contains Kurtz Wood State Natural Area, designated as such due to the old growth forest, and moraine glacial topography. Kurtz has some very special, old and tall trees. (Grafton)

Forest Beach Migratory Preserve was once a golf course, and is now restored to an amazing migratory bird preserve. It has views of Lake Michigan, and hawk towers to watch for the many species of birds that live there. (Belgium)

These sites also feature some of our more recent restoration and stewardship projects including large scale tree plantings, and new bird houses and towers to provide habitat and improve biodiversity. We love these lands and hope you will too! Visit our website at restoringlands.org/preserves to find a preserve near you.