Wehr Nature Center

Wehr Nature Center Wehr is a place for all seasons, a place for everyone! Thank you,
Wehr Nature Center

For more than 50 years, Wehr Nature Center has inspired all generations to explore and value the natural world through experiential education, accessible trails, native landscapes and natural areas. Wehr Nature Center in Whitnall Park fosters an environmental awareness and conservation ethic in visitors of all ages through interactions with its restored habitats and education programming. The Cen

ter provides the public and Milwaukee County valuable information and resources on current local and global environmental issues and enables school groups to interact with and learn more about nature and conservation throughout the County Park System through its Nature in the Parks outreach programming. While the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin – Extension, Milwaukee County Parks, and Wehr Nature Center do not regularly review content posted to social media sites, the administration shall have the right to remove any content from any official site for any reason, including but not limited to content deemed threatening, obscene, a violation of intellectual property rights or privacy laws, or otherwise injurious or illegal. Public opinions/comments posted on this site do not necessarily reflect those of UW-Extension/UW Colleges, Milwaukee County Parks or Wehr Nature Center. NATURE PRESERVE RULES
So all may enjoy the nature preserve along with not disturbing the wildlife:

-Please stay on trails
-Use caution near steep slopes and water
-Please don't pick, remove or add plants/wildlife
-No dogs and other pets
-No running
-No bikes
-No fishing

We are happy to provide other locations where these activities are allowed and appropriate.
___________________________________________________________
DIGITAL PHOTO POLICY
You will retain all rights to any photograph you submit -- including ownership if applicable. If you submit a photograph tagging the Wehr Nature Center, using the location of the Wehr Nature Center, or submitting to one of our photo contests, you grant the Wehr Nature Center a royalty-free, non-exclusive right to:

-Display the photograph on our the Friends of Wehr Website, or any of our social media accounts.
-Use the photograph on the Internet and in Social Media in support of our mission.
-Use the photograph in the Wehr Nature Center’s internal and external communications materials including but not limited to websites and web publications, fact sheets, fundraising publications, advertising, multimedia, presentation and membership services, and annual report. The Wehr Nature Center will endeavor to credit all photographs with the caption "Person's Name" when the full name is available.

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this l...
08/26/2026

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this link: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/bug-day/

🦋 Meet the Virginia Creeper Sphinx Moth! 🌙

Have you ever mistaken a moth for a hummingbird? The Virginia creeper sphinx moth (Darapsa myron) is one of the moths that can make you do a double take!

With a wingspan of about 1¾–2½ inches, this beautifully patterned moth has brown, tan, gray, and olive tones on its forewings, while its hindwings flash orange to rusty colors when it takes flight.

🌿 Where do the caterpillars live?
Despite its name, Virginia creeper isn't its only host plant! The caterpillars feed on Virginia creeper, wild grapes, and related plants. Mature caterpillars can be green, pink, tan, or brown and have the characteristic “horn” found on many sphinx moth caterpillars.

🌸 What do the adults eat?
Adult Virginia creeper sphinx moths feed on flower nectar, hovering in front of flowers as they drink—much like a hummingbird! Their role as nighttime pollinators makes them an important part of woodland and brushy ecosystems.

🌳 Where can you find them?
Look for them in woodlands, woodland edges, and brushy areas. They are also attracted to lights, making nighttime moth surveys a great way to discover these fascinating insects.

And here's a fun fact: sphinx moth caterpillars get their name from the way they often rest with their head raised, resembling the posture of an Egyptian sphinx!

✨ Next time you see Virginia creeper or wild grapes growing along a woodland edge, take a closer look—you might be supporting a future sphinx moth!

The image features a close-up view of a green caterpillar positioned atop a green leaf. The caterpillar is elongated and segmented, displaying a textured surface with small, pale bumps and subtle orange dots along its body. Its head is raised, and small horns are visible, giving it an inquisitive appearance. Surrounding the caterpillar are the jagged edges of the leaf, showcasing its intricate veins and a vibrant green color. In the lower right corner, there is a circular inset that contains an image of a brown moth. The moth has broad wings expanded outward, showing patterns of dark brown and black tones, along with a prominent V-shape cutout in the middle of its hind wings. The background of the entire image is dark, emphasizing the vivid colors of the caterpillar and leaf, contributing to a striking contrast.

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this l...
08/23/2026

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this link: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/bug-day/

🕷️🕸️ Did you know Charlotte from "Charlotte’s Web" was inspired by the amazing world of orb-weaver spiders?

If you’ve ever pictured Charlotte spinning her iconic web, you’ve pictured one of nature’s most incredible architectural feats!

Orb-weaver spiders, members of the family Araneidae, are famous for their beautiful, wheel-shaped webs. They create these intricate structures using specialized organs called spinnerets, located at the tip of their abdomen.

So, how do spinnerets work?

🕸️ Tiny silk factories: Orb weavers typically have three pairs of mobile spinnerets, covered with microscopic openings called **spigots** that connect to specialized silk glands.

🧵Liquid becomes silk: Inside the spider, silk begins as a liquid protein solution. As the spider draws it through the tiny spigots, the proteins are transformed into incredibly strong and flexible threads.

🎯Precision engineering: Using their legs and body movements, spiders carefully control where each strand goes as they construct their intricate orb webs.

♻️Spider recycling: When an orb weaver is ready to rebuild, it may eat portions of its old web and recycle the valuable proteins to help produce new silk!

Charlotte may be a fictional character, but the spider biology behind her incredible web is very real. 🕷️✨

Next time you see an orb web sparkling in the morning dew, take a moment to appreciate the tiny architect who built it!

The image features a close-up of a spider situated at the center of its intricately woven web. The spider has a glossy, reddish-brown body adorned with yellow dots and markings, and its eight legs extend outward, prominently displaying their segmented structure. The background is predominantly dark, enhancing the visibility of the spider and its web. The web itself is composed of fine, delicate strands that intersect in a geometric pattern, showcasing the spider's craftsmanship. An arrow points to the spinnerets located at the rear of the spider's abdomen, indicating their function in web production.

’sWeb

Here’s the beef, corn and Mozzarella and the spinach and three cheese empanadas from La Empanada LLC. They will be serv...
08/22/2026

Here’s the beef, corn and Mozzarella and the spinach and three cheese empanadas from La Empanada LLC.

They will be serving up some delicious empandas at Brews & Botany.

🌿🍺 Brews & Botany is almost here! 🍺🌿Do you have your tickets yet? Join us tomorrow, August 22, from 4–6 PM at Wehr Natur...
08/21/2026

🌿🍺 Brews & Botany is almost here! 🍺🌿

Do you have your tickets yet? Join us tomorrow, August 22, from 4–6 PM at Wehr Nature Center for an evening exploring the fascinating connection between plants and the beverages we love.

This year, we're especially excited to welcome staff from both Boerner Botanical Gardens and Mitchell Park Domes. They’ll be sharing their knowledge and expertise about the botanicals that can enrich and transform our favorite beverages. 🌱☕️🍺

Come sample unique drinks from local small businesses, enjoy botanical hikes and trivia, listen to live acoustic music, and soak in the beautiful natural setting. An artisanal food truck will also be onsite.

🎟️ Tickets: $25 non-member | $20 Friends of Wehr member
🍻 Six-Pack Deal: 6 tickets for $110!

All are welcome, but you must be 21+ to sample alcoholic beverages. The event is rain or shine.

👉 Get your tickets and learn more: Brews & Botany at Wehr Nature Center

Come curious. Come thirsty. Come discover the plants behind your favorite brews! 🌿

Please see this link for more details: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/brews-and-botany/

Our Brews and Botany Event is coming up soon. Do you have tickets? Our event is August 22nd from 4-6pm and you can lea...
08/21/2026

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: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/brews-and-botany/

We are featuring our amazing vendors and educators that will be present for our Brews & Botany . Our next vendor is La Empanada LLC. They are a family-owned food cart called La Empanada and the only Argentine food cart in the state of Wisconsin. They travel around the greater Milwaukee Area, offer catering for business and parties, their home base is in Ozaukee County. They serve their food with delicious ingredients and seasoning traditional to Argentina. From their most popular Beef Empanada to their sweet churro chips served with dulce de leche, we know you will find something to love.

For more information on La Empanada LLC, please check out their website here: https://www.laempanadallc.com/

Don't their empanadas look delicious?

08/20/2026

Welcome back to another episode of Access at Wehr: today we are talking about Sensory Bags!
Check them out for free at the front desk during your next visit.

Video description: Carly touches items that come with the sensory bag, she puts on the black headphones that fit snuggly and block out sound: she gives a thumbs up as the screen says "great for events", she moves the fidgets in her hands to demonstrate that they move back and forth and spin. Carly also points to different emotions on the cue card that features emotions like Sad/ Confused/Tired that visitors can use for communication.

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this l...
08/19/2026

Bug Day is fast approaching. Do you have tickets? To learn more about this awesome bug-filled event please visit this link: https://www.wehrnaturecenter.com/event/bug-day/

Did you know some of Wisconsin’s caterpillars are hiding right in your backyard after dark? Many moth caterpillars are nocturnal, spending the day tucked under leaves or hidden in vegetation.

Grab a flashlight and a UV (blacklight) flashlight and head outside for a nighttime adventure! Scan the leaves, stems, and shrubs—you may discover glowing caterpillars, spiders, moths, and other fascinating creatures.

Wisconsin species you might find include Luna Moth, Polyphemus Moth, Hummingbird Clearwing, Snowberry Clearwing, and tussock moth caterpillars.

Remember: look, don’t touch! Some caterpillars have irritating hairs or spines, and all are best appreciated where you find them.

So, turn down the lights, grab a UV flashlight, and explore the hidden nighttime world of Wisconsin’s insects! 🌙🐛

Our staff used a UV Flashlight form our friends The Caterpillar Lab to find this Promethea Caterpillar. You can see this link to their website if you would like your own: https://the-caterpillar-lab.myshopify.com/collections/field-equipment/products/uv-flashlight

The image depicts a close-up view of a Promethea Caterpillar resting on a vibrant leaf. The caterpillar is elongated and pale bluish-green, showcasing distinct segments with subtle curves along its body. It has small black dots distributed along its sides and two prominent horn-like structures that are tipped with bright colors at either end, giving it a striking appearance. The leaf beneath it displays a mix of shades, including purple and green, due the glow of a UV flashlight, with visible veins and a textured surface. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the caterpillar and leaf, while a logo for "WEHR Nature Center" appears in the lower-left corner.

We are featuring our amazing vendors and educators that will be be present for our Brews & Botany event. Next is The MA...
08/18/2026

We are featuring our amazing vendors and educators that will be be present for our Brews & Botany event.

Next is The MARM Farm - Milwaukee Area Renewal Movement.

The MARM Farm in Milwaukee is more than an urban farm—it’s a place where sustainable agriculture, education, conservation, and community come together.

Through regenerative and organic growing practices, The MARM Farm provides fresh, locally grown produce through its pay-as-you-can farmstand, helping make healthy food more accessible to underserved community members.

Founder, Ellen Colby is a Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver, who will be sharing her knowledge on how to use dried fruits and herbs to make the base for various cocktails or even mocktails.

Support local agriculture. Strengthen food security. Build a healthier, more sustainable community

08/17/2026

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: https://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: https://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!

Address

9701 West College Avenue
Franklin, WI
53132

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14144258550

Website

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