DNR reports illegal cicada harvesting at Bigfoot Beach State Park

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (CBS58) – Cicadas have been the buzz of the summer, but the Wisconsin DNR says they have gotten reports of people harvesting them.

"We do know these periodical cicadas can be very localized, so if there were enough collected in a specific area it's possible that could have an impact on their populations," said PJ Liesch, director of UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab.

The DNR did not say how many cicadas were illegally harvested. The Director of UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab, PJ Liesch, said we should be respectful of them while they are here.

He also says we are nearing the end of their activity in the state, and we will not see them again for another 17 years.

Diana Imp was visiting Bigfoot Beach State Park on Monday, June 24.

The DNR said it's the only known location where cicadas are being harvested.

Imp says she does not see the harm if people want to enjoy or collect them.

"There are so many acres and there's so many that I can't imagine that people eating some of them is going to make a big deal out of anything," said Imp.

In a statement, the DNR said:

"Park staff and wardens have been instructed to make efforts to first educate the public on cicadas in state parks and wardens may take enforcement action in response to violations."