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!
July 26 @ 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join us for an inclusive Open House celebrating Wehr Nature Center’s commitment to equitable access to the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. This free community event invites everyone to explore nature through accessible experiences, adaptive recreation, and meaningful connections with local accessibility partners.
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!
All Ages and Abilities
9:00 am – 11:00 am
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
8:00 am – 10:00 am
10:30 am – 11:30 am
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
7:30 pm – 9:30 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!
Today's creature feature is the dragonfly. Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet.Dragonflies have complicated neck muscles which allow them to tilt their head sideways 180 degrees, back 70 degrees and down 40 degrees. Dragonflies can hover in midair and then rapidly accelerate.One article suggests dragonflies are the most effective predators in the animal world – 95% success rate which is truly amazing. Photo is of a Halloween Pennant taken in our Oak Savanna.
Bee or wasp? Take a closer look!Masked Bees (Hylaeus spp.), also known as Yellow-faced Bees, are among Wisconsin's smallest native bees, measuring just ¼ inch long. Their shiny black bodies, bright yellow facial "masks," and lack of fuzzy hairs often cause them to be mistaken for tiny wasps.Unlike most bees, female Masked Bees don't carry pollen on their legs or abdomen. Instead, they store both pollen and nectar inside their crop—a specialized food-storage organ—and transport it back to their nests. Because they don't have the pollen-carrying hairs (called scopa) found on many other bees, they have a sleek, almost wasp-like appearance.These tiny pollinators nest in hollow stems, twigs, and other pre-existing cavities, lining each brood cell with a remarkable waterproof, cellophane-like secretion that protects their developing young. Since they can't excavate their own nests, they often rely on tunnels already created by other insects.With nearly 700 species found worldwide and about 14 species in North America, Masked Bees are widespread but frequently overlooked. In Wisconsin, they can be found from spring through early fall, quietly visiting a wide variety of flowers.The next time you notice a tiny black-and-yellow insect on a blossom, don't assume it's a wasp. It just might be one of our smallest—and most fascinating—native pollinators!Photo is of a close-up of a yellow flower with a small black bee on its stamens, highlighting the flower’s vibrant colors and details with the Wehr Nature Center logo in the lower left corner.
Enjoy member perks like free parking, discounts on select programs and events, and more!
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