Wehr Nature Center is a place where everyone belongs. Open year-round, we offer accessible buildings, trails, and park features designed for visitors of all ages and abilities. Wander our more than five-miles of trails traversing five distinct habitats all within a five-minute walk. Enjoy universally designed exhibits, comfortable restrooms, and hands-on unique programs that bring people together through nature all year round.
Save the Date!
August 22 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Discover the plants behind your favorite beverages at this leisurely, fun, and educational evening at Wehr featuring local coffee, tea, craft beer, and other purveyors. Live music, food trucks, and more!
September 13 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hop, crawl, fly, or jump your way into the most amazing insect exhibit in southeast Wisconsin!
All Ages and Abilities
10:30 am – 11:30 am
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
8:00 am – 10:00 am
10:30 am – 11:30 am
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Featured Program
Join us for a monthly ecology walk at various Milwaukee County Natural Areas, where we’ll learn, observe, and ID native flowers! On our walk, you’ll also learn about the characteristics of the native plant community that we will explore.
Wehr Nature Center inspires all generations to explore and value the plants and animals of our natural world through experiential education, accessible trails, native landscapes and natural areas.
July – September Newsletter
Happy Summer! Wehr’s trails are overflowing with an abundance of green, flowers, interesting insects, and wildlife. In nature the delight is in the details – slow down and see for yourself during your next hike at Wehr.
In the summer issue of Wehr Words, we hope you’ll enjoy learning about Wehr’s efforts to support the next generation of environmental leaders, spotlight the amazing Wehr Astronomical Society, highlight the 16,000+ volunteer hours, and more!
One bird’s mess is another bird’s meal! Wehr’s Wild Turkeys will gladly clean up the stray seed thrown to the ground by busy birds at the feeders. It’s quite a sight to find cardinals, doves, and sparrows eating right alongside these giant turkeys.
See why Wehr Nature Center is “a place for all seasons, a place for everyone.” Explore more than five miles of nature trails through woodland, wetland, prairie and oak savanna on 220-acres of protected land in Whitnall Park at Wehr Nature Center.
This is without a doubt, the best place to birdwatch and see wildlife in the Milwaukee metro area. The nature center is fantastic. The staff is welcoming and the trails are extremely well-maintained. Always something exciting to see!
While Lakefront Brewery will not be joining us in person for Brews and Botany this year, they have generously donated several of their beers for attendees to enjoy during the event—including one of their best sellers, their India Pale Ale.Thank you, Lakefront Brewery, for supporting Brews and Botany and helping us celebrate the connections between Wisconsin’s plants, beverages, and the people who create them!Did you know that Lakefront Brewery is a certified B Corporation? Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet rigorous standards for verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability while balancing profit with purpose.Learn more about Brews and Botany or register for the event here: www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/brews-and-botany/
🦗 Meet the Northern Flatid Planthopper!Have you ever noticed a tiny, greenish insect that looks like it’s been dusted with flour? You may have spotted a Northern Flatid Planthopper (Flatormenis proxima)!These small, wedge-shaped, sap-sucking insects are common throughout the eastern United States and are active from June through October. Their bodies and wings are covered in a distinctive, mealy white wax that helps give them their almost frosted appearance.🌿 Northern Flatid Planthoppers feed on a wide variety of woody and herbaceous plants, including oaks, grape, milkweed, mulberry, hophornbeam, and elm. Despite their broad diet, they rarely cause significant damage to healthy plants.🦘 They are also excellent jumpers! When disturbed, they can quickly spring away, making them easy to miss.At just 5.5–9 mm long, these tiny insects are a great reminder that there is always something new to discover when you take a closer look at the plants around you.Keep your eyes open—you might find one at Wehr! 🌿🔎The image features a pale, translucent insect perched on a vertical plant stem. The insect, likely a type of planthopper, displays a white and slightly iridescent body, which is shaped like a small triangle with rounded edges. Its wings are folded closely along its body, revealing fine veining that adds texture and detail. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the insect and the green, slightly mottled stem it clings to. The plant stem shows a rough texture with a mix of light and dark greens, alongside small flecks of red. The lower left corner contains a logo with the text “WEHR Nature Center.”
Enjoy member perks like free parking, discounts on select programs and events, and more!
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