Wisconsin wildlife officials intend to edit the state's invasive species list for the first time since its creation in 2009. Rather than strengthen already harsh regulations on the menacing Emerald Ash Borer, destroyer of the region's ash trees, they'll instead focus on preventing other possible invasive creatures from establishing the same stronghold, htrnews.com reported.

Current rules stipulate that residents kill borers discovered on their property. The proposed rule changes would eliminate that mandate -- a sign that state officials are beginning to cede to the ash borers' tyrannical reign. (It also may have something to do with forcing residents to kill insects, which seems like a touchy policy.) The polar vortex was thought to have eliminated a significant portion of the species' larva, but apparently that wasn't the case.

"It's not a reduction in concern in any way," said Andrea Diss-Torrance, the Department of Natural Resources' invasive forest pest specialist, of policy changes associated with the ash borer. "We just have to focus on managing it because we can't get it booted out of the state."

"At some point," she added, "it's beyond the limits of the ability to control its spread."

The state will strengthen regulations on other species deemed invasive, while potentially adding 50 more to the list (which currently numbers around 100), according to htrnews. Many of the species added or reclassified to higher levels were plants, some of which are found in nurseries. In order to mitigate a potentially dicey situation, environmentalists are proposing to slowly fade out the sale of invasive species rather than impose a harsh restriction, which could have economic consequences.

"If you automatically told (nurseries) that you're not allowed to sell these plants anymore, that's an extreme economic devastation," said Brian Swingle, the Wisconsin Nursery Association's executive director. "(The phase-in) gives them a heads up."

The compromise also ensures the plants are added to the list and not the impetus of a legal battle, according to Kelly Kearns, the DNR's invasive plants coordinator.

"One person who complains about something and puts up a big stink, it can keep the rules from being changed," she said. "To a certain extent we are (compromising the environment), but it allows us to get the rule passed and get all these other species on the list."