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Snowmobile trails in Eagle River will close at noon Friday and Trails listed on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) are increasingly moving from poor to closed.
With the extremely warm temperatures this week, ice is rapidly disappearing from lakes. Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison are completely ice-free. Lakes in northern Wisconsin still have ice, but what ice remains is honeycombed and dangerous and there are areas of open water in many locations. Wardens are urging all people to stay off any remaining ice.
Open water fishing continues to pick up with the spring steelhead run already underway on Lake Michigan tributaries. Steelhead were moving up the Sheboygan, Menominee and Root rivers and Oak Creek. Shore anglers have been catching brown trout at Port Washington and boaters have taken brown, steelhead and some lake trout out of the Milwaukee harbor. River anglers were reporting fair to good walleye action below dams on the Wolf, Wisconsin, Rock and Crawfish rivers.
The pleasant weather if bringing people out to parks and trails to hike, or plan camping trips. While the nice weather is tempting for a bike ride, state trails managers are asking bikers to stay off the state rail-trails with crushed limestone screening if the trails are soft and damp. Riding the trails in these conditions can leave deep ruts that are difficult to repair and that make riding dangerous once the trails have dried out. Several parks are reporting they are getting camping areas cleaned up early in anticipation of campers heading out this weekend to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. Call parks and forest directly to find out if campsites are open and current conditions.
There is still time to share your thoughts on deer by taking part in one of the remaining public deer hunting forums. The forums began last week and will continue to March 29. An on-line survey is also available for you to provide input. These “virtual deer forums” allow you to take part without traveling. The online survey will be available until April 3.
Bears are increasingly on the move and bird feeders should be removed, or raised out of the reach of hungry bruins. Turkeys are beginning to gobble and a roughed grouse was heard drumming recently. Eagles are actively nesting and are defending their Northwoods territories. Barred owls have been aggressively trading territorial calls during the early night hours. A large flock of as many as 250 trumpeter swans were reported moving along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Whitefish Dunes State Park on March 13-14.
Trees, especially in central and southern Wisconsin are budding. Maple sap is running and it’s uncertain how this warm spell will affect the season this year. Pussy willow catkins are budding out and pasque flowers are already in bloom in some locations.
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