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Warm weather continues to hamper winter outdoor recreation in Wisconsin, with temperatures in the last week in the low 50s in the south and 40s in the north melting snow and making ice on southern lakes hazardous. Snow depths range from a high of 15 to 17 inches in the far north to bare ground in the south.
Snowmobile trails are rated as good in about half a dozen counties and fair in half a dozen more on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) but those trails that are open have been receiving very heavy use, and with very little snow in the last week, trails are turning brown and some have thin spots. Trails in the southern two-thirds of the state are closed and state conservation wardens are cautioning that people riding closed trails in some areas are putting future trail easements with private land owners at risk. They ask anyone seeing people riding closed trails to call the 24-hour tip line 1-800-TIP-WDNR.
Cross-country ski trails in the north are still holding up, with trails in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest rated as good to very good. Trails in southern and central areas are not holding up as well. Two of the 11 candlelight ski and hikes scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 4 – ones at Blue Mound State Park and the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest -- have been cancelled due to icy and muddy conditions, but as of Thursday the remaining events were planned to go ahead as hikes or skis if there is enough snow. As always, people interested in attending should call ahead to confirm.
Ice conditions continue to deteriorate in southern and central Wisconsin, with open water appearing on more lakes. There were reports of at least four recreational vehicles and several people going through the ice of southern lakes this week. Ice in the north continues to be fairly good, but many lakes have now developed slush under several inches of snow. Ice anglers in the north continue to report fishing at a mid winter slump, with anglers having to move around a bit to find panfish, and action slower for walleye and northern pike on tip-ups.
There is no safe ice on the main Bay of Green Bay, but anglers continue to fish some smaller bays including Sawyer Harbor and Sturgeon and Little Sturgeon bays, with some success for whitefish and perch. Open water anglers continue to fish the Milwaukee harbor and Port Washington with some success for brown trout and steelhead. The Racine harbor had fishable ice, but conditions are questionable with the current warm temperatures. Anglers have been catching browns through the ice along with some rainbows.
White-tailed bucks are still being seen with antlers on and wildlife biologists say the mild winter may play a role in later antler drop. Deer have not yarded up this winter due to the lack of snow and warm weather. South facing slopes are bare of snow leaving plenty on browse available. There was a report of an active bear this week that apparently got up to wander around and enjoy the 50 degree weather near Wild Rose.
The diver duck population on Lake Michigan near Racine has been very impressive. Hundreds of diver ducks, in full color, have been hanging out in the harbor and near the lagoon. Trumpeter swans were being seen this week on the Mississippi River in Cassville. Red tailed hawks have been spotted which is early for their return migration. A pair of bald eagles has been spotted at Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area this week already busy building and preparing their nest.
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