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
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
8:00 am – 10:00 am
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
9:30 am – 10:30 am
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!
Our Brews and Botany Event is coming up soon. Do you have tickets? Our event is August 22nd from 4-6pm and you can learn more about it here: www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/brews-and-botany/We are really excited to have Peter Irving playing at our event. We met him one day while he was practicing fiddle at Wehr. You can learn more about Peter Irving and his music here: peterirving.live/Here is a little sampling of music called the "Blackest Crow," from Peter. "The Blackest Crow" is a traditional North American folk and Appalachian fiddle tune. Its roots trace back to early British and Scottish floating ballads brought over by settlers. The lyrics—focusing on parting lovers and sorrow—appeared in American Civil War diaries and were first published around 1906. It was later popularized by traditional fiddler Tommy Jarrel. We thought it was a very appropriate song to share after Irish Fest. "With a fondness for clever wordplay and syncopation, Peter sets out to make acoustic music danceable yet pensive. You'll hear a mix of banjo, fiddle and guitar behind his voice. From pure dance rhythms to deep metaphors and stories, expect to think, move and maybe blow off a little steam."Please enjoy!
Have you ever seen a caterpillar that looks like it’s wearing a wild, fuzzy wig? Meet the hag moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium), also known as the “monkey slug”! 🐛Native to eastern North America, this unusual caterpillar is covered in short brown hairs and has bizarre, curled appendages that give it a remarkably strange appearance. Those appendages may even detach when threatened, potentially leaving a predator with a mouthful of caterpillar parts while the monkey slug makes its escape.But look, don’t touch! Hidden beneath those longer appendages are tufts of hollow, stinging spines connected to toxin glands. Contact can cause a burning, itching sensation, redness, and inflammation—similar to a bee sting.Hag moth caterpillars are generalist feeders and can be found on a variety of trees and shrubs, including oak, hickory, dogwood, sassafras, rose, and spirea. They typically cause little damage to their host plants.By late summer, keep an eye out for this fascinating—and slightly creepy—caterpillar. Its bizarre appearance is a great reminder that sometimes nature’s strangest creatures are right under our noses!🐒 Monkey slug?🕷️ Spider mimic?🐛 Or just one seriously weird caterpillar?Whatever you call it, admire this one from a distance!To learn more about the cool insects that may live in your backyard please check out our Bug Day event on September 13th. You can learn more about the event here: www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/bug-day/The image features a close-up view of a unique, brown caterpillar resting on a green leaf. The caterpillar has a distinct appearance, characterized by numerous small, curly appendages that resemble spines or tiny antennae, giving it a textured and somewhat hairy look. The leaf it occupies displays a detailed texture with fine veins and small holes, indicating it has been partially consumed. The background shows a rocky surface, providing a contrast to the vibrant green of the leaf and the brown of the caterpillar. The image also contains the logo of the Wehr Nature Center in the lower left corner.
Enjoy member perks like free parking, discounts on select programs and events, and more!
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