Milwaukee, WI
Is it legal to forage for food in Milwaukee? Here’s what to know
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Foraging, or the practice of gathering wild foods, has become more popular over the years as people seek a more authentic connection with nature and with what they eat.
But there is a lot to know about how to do it and where it’s allowed – especially in the Milwaukee area, where legacy industrial pollution has left behind contaminated soil in many places.
Experts say you should not eat something unless you’re completely certain of what it is and whether it is safe to eat. They also remind people not to take more than they need.
Here’s what to know about where you can – and can’t – forage in Milwaukee and the surrounding area.
Is it legal to forage in Milwaukee County parks?
No.
Milwaukee County Ordinance 47.08 says no person shall “harvest, collect, deface, or disturb” native plants or fungi anywhere in the park system. The removal of invasive species is only permitted by parks department staff or others they have authorized. Breaking the rule comes at a cost of $100.
The ordinance is in place largely because many soils around the county are contaminated due to the area’s industrial history, said James Tarantino, deputy director of Milwaukee County Parks. In other words, it’s a safety issue.
“People really can’t assume that just because this field is green and it has plants growing on it that it’s always been that way,” Tarantino said.
The parks department is working on restoring native habitat and cleaning up soils, including in the Milwaukee River corridor, which is designated as one of the most degraded areas in the Great Lakes region.
Tarantino said the number of tickets issued for foraging in the parks is small and usually occurs when people are taking large quantities of a plant for commercial use. Typically, parks department staffers try to to educate people about the reasons foraging is not allowed, he said.
Is it legal to forage in Wisconsin state parks?
Foraging is allowed on state lands, including parks, forests and natural areas – but some rules still apply.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, people can forage for edible fruits and nuts; wild mushrooms; wild asparagus and watercress; and garlic mustard and other invasive species, without a permit.
Still, it is only allowed for personal consumption. Collecting seeds, plant parts and wild ramps is not allowed. Foraging of endangered or threatened species is similarly banned, and the state has specific rules for harvesting wild rice and wild ginseng.
Do other counties allow foraging?
Foraging is legal in some Wisconsin county parks. It’s always a good idea to check in advance.
Dane County, for example, offers a list of specific locations within parks to find nuts, morel mushrooms, berries and other fruits, as well as the best times to harvest.
Madeline Heim covers health and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@usatodayco.com.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on early Sunday morning on the 4900 block of W. Capitol Drive that left one person injured.
An 18-year-old sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
TMJ4
The police is currently looking for an unknown suspect at this time.
Those with information regarding the shooting are encouraged to contact the Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips to remain anonymous.
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MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department requested the public’s help to find 11-year-old Sir’Charles Bason, a critically missing boy who was last seen near Teutonia and Kiley at around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
Police described Bason as 4 feet, 5 inches tall with a slim build, brown eyes and black, low-cut hair. He was last seen wearing a gray jacket with green lines, dark-colored jeans, tan sandals and carrying gray Nike Jordan shoes.
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What you can do:
Anyone with information on Bason’s whereabouts is asked to call Milwaukee Police District 4 at 414-935-7242.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department released information.
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man, previously named one of Wisconsin’s Most Wanted, has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing his cousin in 2020.
In court
What we know:
A Milwaukee County jury found 39-year-old Brandon Gladney guilty of first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firm by a felon earlier this year.
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Judge Michelle Havas sentenced Gladney to 29 years in prison on Friday, April 17. He was granted credit for more than a year’s time served and further sentenced to 14 years of extended supervision.
Arrested in Arizona after years on the run, court records show Gladney has also been ordered to pay the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office more than $1,800 for extradition costs.
Homicide investigation
The backstory:
The shooting happened in May 2020. Investigators said Gladney was captured on video apparently arguing with the victim, his cousin, outside a Milwaukee convenience store near 21st and Meinecke.
“It’s all on video, and it’s devastating for that family,” the marshal on the case told FOX6 when Gladney was profiled on Wisconsin’s Most Wanted. “You have a family member that shot and killed another family member.”
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Prosecutors said Gladney walked away but then returned with a gun pointed directly at the victim and shot him. The victim died from his gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital. Multiple bullet casings were found at the scene.
Gladney went on the run for years. He was arrested in Arizona in January 2023, years after he was charged.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from the U.S. Marshals Service, Wisconsin Circuit Court and prior coverage.
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