Spring truly arrived with last week’s Vernal equinox ushering in very warm temperatures and some strong winds and rain showers that opened up lakes across southern Wisconsin, started frogs calling, and had trees buds swelling and the first plants coming up in the southern part of the state. No areas of Wisconsin were reporting any snow cover yet this week, with the exception of some of the larger snow piles that haven’t melted.
Lakes and rivers in southern and central Wisconsin have opened. Some northern lakes still have 12 to 15 inches of ice but the upper layer has become soft and honeycombed and the overall ice conditions are generally unsafe and dangerous nearly bringing the ice fishing season to an end. Very few anglers have been venturing out as access onto the lakes has become difficult with open-water areas showing up along shorelines. Anglers on open waters in the south have been concentrating their efforts on the dark bottom bays that warm quickly. Crappies and bluegills are the main target. Northern pike are currently in the creeks and ditches spawning and walleye spawning won’t be far off.
Walleye and sucker runs have begun on some rivers, including the Menominee, Wolf and Fox, Rock and Crawfish. Dipnetters were having good success dipping suckers, carp and buffalo for smoking. The main channel and backwaters of the Mississippi River and most boat landings are free of ice and accessible. The Mississippi River stage topped out at 12 feet last week and slowly fell and was at 11.3 feet at Prairie du Chien early this week. Barge traffic is starting to show up on the Mississippi River. Anglers have been having sporadic success catching walleyes on wing dams and below dams, and catching northern pike, crappies and perch in area backwaters.
Green Bay is still partially frozen, but opening up rapidly. Sawyer Harbor has open water, but the mouth of the harbor was still locked by ice as of March 27. Along Lake Michigan, anglers fishing in the Manitowoc Sheboygan, Port Washington and Kenosha harbors had good catches of brown trout this week. Some brown and rainbow trout have been taken at the Milwaukee lakefront.
Water levels were ideal for steelheading on some Lake Michigan tributaries this week. The East and West Twin Rivers saw good runs of steelhead this past week. The Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers were producing some steelhead. Flows were still high on the Milwaukee River, but some steelhead have been taken out of the Menomonee River. On the Root River in Racine flows remain high, but the river is fishable. The Root River Steelhead Facility is open and approximately 240,000 Chambers Creek strain eggs have been taken so far.
Warm temperatures have accelerated bird migration across the state. Robins, meadowlarks, grackles, blackbirds, killdeer and other early migrants are now present statewide. Waterfowl migration is in full swing with many birders reporting the main push of Canada geese having already passed through. Red-shouldered hawks, winter wrens, hermit thrush, fox sparrow, kinglets, phoebes and other early woodland migrants are pushing through southern and central Wisconsin. Canada geese are pairing up and getting ready to nest. Whooping cranes have returned to Central Wisconsin at and near Necedah national refuge.
Chipmunks have come out of hibernation and are active around bird feeders. Black bears will soon begin to roam in search of food after there long winter rest. Don’t be the target of nuisance bears. Clean up your yard and consider bringing bird feeders and pet dishes in at night to reduce the temptation of bears to visit your home. Maple syrup gathering is continuing but with greatly reduced production reported due to the warm temperatures. Turkey season is just around the corner and it would be a good time to start scouting the area you plan to hunt. Turkeys continue to disperse and smaller groups are being found over broader areas.
Wood frogs, chorus frogs and spring peepers began their springtime chorus, garter snakes have been seen emerging from their hibernacula and mourning cloak butterflies were spotted this week at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee.
A final reminder that current hunting and fishing licenses expire this Saturday, March 31. 2007-2008 licenses are on sale now at license outlets and service centers.
A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
A new report is put on the line each week.
Statewide Birding Report
Warm temperatures have accelerated bird migration across the state. Robins, meadowlarks, grackles, blackbirds, killdeer and other early migrants are now present statewide. Waterfowl migration is in full swing with many birders reporting the main push of geese already passing through southern WI. Red-shouldered hawks, winter wrens, hermit thrush, fox sparrow, kinglets, phoebes and other early woodland migrants are pushing through southern and central Wisconsin. Rare birds seen include a barrow's goldeneye and black scoter in Ashland, a displaying lek of spruce grouse in Vilas County, harlequin ducks at Harrington Beach State Park and Sheboygan, and a Harris' sparrow in Racine. The main eagle push probably went through on south winds last week including golden eagles reported at various locations. Many birders are seeking out the young, wet shrubby habitat to watch the nuptial dance of the American woodcock. Some birders are still reporting short-eared owls at large grassland areas. Birders are encouraged to monitor those birds for nesting and report their sightings to ebird (
www.ebird.org/wi) so that we can better track bird populations across the state.
NORTHERN REGION
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Unseasonably warm weather quickened the spring awakening. Recent rains and above 70 degree temperatures have badly eroded shoreline ice and opened area rivers. Any remaining ice should be considered questionable at best so use extreme caution before venturing out. Northern pike spawning activity is occurring and walleye spawning won’t be far off. Wildlife activity is increasing and a number of species have returned including sandhill cranes, redwing blackbirds, bluebirds, swans and increased number of geese and mourning doves. Chipmunks have come out of hibernation and are active around bird feeders. Black bears will soon begin to roam in search of food after there long winter rest. Don’t be the target of nuisance bears. Clean up your yard and consider bringing bird feeders and pet dishes in at night to reduce the temptation of bears to visit your home. Maple syrup gathering is continuing but with greatly reduced production reported due to the warm temperatures. Turkey season is just around the corner and it would be a good time to start scouting the area you plan to hunt. Turkeys continue to disperse and smaller groups are being found over broader areas. Wood frogs, chorus frogs and spring peepers began their beautiful chorus of springtime and will continue to add music as other frogs join the spring ritual. Go out and enjoy some of nature’s spring ritual.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the mild weather of the past week, ice conditions have deteriorated quickly and nearly brought the ice fishing season to an end. Very few anglers have been venturing out as access onto the lakes has become difficult with open-water areas showing up along the south and east facing shorelines. Most lakes still have 12 to 15 inches of ice but the upper layer has become soft and honeycombed and the overall ice conditions are generally unsafe and dangerous.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Warm temperatures the past few days have reduced snow depth and rains have soaked into the ice on most lakes causing dangerous ice conditions. Snowmobile and skiing activity is over for the year. The warm days and cold nights are great conditions for maple syruping right now. Fishing activity is improving with crappie activity reported throughout the area. Area anglers and guides are gearing up for the upcoming opening of fishing season. Sports shows are being held this time of year. This is a great time to get out with kids and start thinking about preparing for annual fishing and boating traditions. March 31 is the expiration date of 2006-07 hunting and fishing licenses. 2007-08 licenses are on sale now at license outlets and service centers. A continuing reminder to those interested, April 16 is the date for the Spring Fish and Wildlife Rules Hearings and Conservation Congress Meetings. These hearings are held in every county of the state beginning at 7 p.m. If you are busy tending to your yard and dealing with after winter clean up chores; please remember that burning permits are required once the snow cover goes and are available at area service centers. Remember that careless outdoor/debris burning is the major cause behind wildfires. Lakeshore property owners who are spending the spring season working on projects such as repairing of piers and construction of swim rafts, we remind you that information is available at DNR service centers related to the construction/placement of piers, swim rafts and water trampolines. There are specific guidelines and regulations involved in connection with the construction and placement of these objects on the waters. The spring wildflowers will soon be appearing and those of you who enjoy those hikes in the woods or along the roadsides will enjoy the annual floral displays that will begin to unfold. One of the early arrivals will be the trailing arbutus, the wood violets and the marsh marigolds. Please remember that you must not pick the wildflowers. Take a camera along with you on your hikes so that you can record and keep their beauty for your future enjoyment.
NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - High water on area rivers is being observed with additional rain in the forecast. Peshtigo fisheries crew are working Bagley Rapids on the Peshtigo with a spring netting survey. Water temperatures were at 46 degrees at Bagley Rapids with a report from High Falls of water temperature in high 30s. The Menominee is flowing at typical flow rates usually seen in the later part of April. Anglers are reporting good sizes for walleye being caught, some near 30 inches (the current bag limit is one walleye - 15 inches). Please check new walleye regulations for the Menominee below the first dam and Green Bay waters, signs are posted at boat landings. Robins, sandhill cranes, and redwing blackbirds are being observed more often. An unidentified swan species was observed on Lake Noquebay earlier in the week. Turkey flocks are still holding together in the northern section of the county with toms displaying during the warm days. Deer ticks are active inland.
Oconto County - Northern pike are currently in the creeks and ditches spawning. A reminder that all tributaries to Green Bay other than the "Major Tributaries" listed in the rule book are currently closed to hook and line fishing. Suckers are starting to run and people dip netting are having some success. Walleye and rainbow fishing in the Oconto is a little slow right now due to the high water. People were catching some brown trout off the break wall and in the Oconto River in the City of Oconto. Another reminder on walleye fishing in Green Bay and the Oconto County tributaries of Green Bay please see the new rules in your fishing regulations.
Shawano County - There are bigger flocks of tundra swans, Canada geese and sandhill cranes being seen. New bird species that have returned are song sparrow, phoebe, and wood duck. Larger bird species included red-shouldered hawks and turkey vultures also last week. The spring peepers, wood frogs and chorus frogs are calling. The Wolf River is now open but backwaters still have ice.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Walleye fishing has been very good on the Fox River for both shore anglers at Voyageur Park and boat anglers early in the week but slowed down later in the week due to muddy water from recent rains. It should be picking up as the water clears. Jigs and minnows, jigs and plastics, crankbaits, river rigs with minnows, all have been producing lots of fish in the 16 to 23 inch range throughout the day and at night as well. The Voyageur Park area in DePere is where most of the anglers were fishing.
Manitowoc County - In Manitowoc, anglers fishing off the north pier had good catches of brown trout this week. Anglers fishing from the south pier also had good luck catching catfish and some nice brown trout. Successful anglers used spawn sacs or spoons. Boaters trolling Lake Michigan outside the Manitowoc harbor had a good week picking up brown trout along the shoreline. In Two Rivers, anglers fishing inside the harbor and off the piers had a slow week for brown trout, but were able to pick up some bullheads while casting spoons. The West Twin River saw a good run of steelhead this past week. Most anglers were fishing near the Shoto dam with spawn sacs. Fishing was excellent as many anglers were catching near limits with many sizable rainbow taken. Boaters fishing the East Twin River via the Shoto Public launch had some success catching steelhead and catfish. The East Twin River is flowing fast and high, but anglers had a busy week around the Mishicot dam and Village Park. Anglers had great success catching steelhead floating a bobber and spawn sac combination. Many anglers reported picking up suckers while fishing steelhead.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County
Peninsula State Park - As of March 26, snow cover was gone though piles and patches remain. Many trails are wet or muddy. All trails are closed to bicycling until trails dry Most roads in the park are now open and free of snow (except section of Middle road). Water levels in Green Bay are still very low. The Bay is still partially frozen, but opening up rapidly.
Potawatomi State Park - Spring is here. There are only traces of snow and ice left in the park. Bird activity in the harbor is plentiful and very vocal. Bikers are biking. There were even a couple of jet skiers in the bay of Sturgeon Bay last week! Sawyer Harbor has some open water, but the mouth of the harbor is still locked by ice as of March 27. The south campground is open to reservations as of April 1. The north campground loop, fish cleaning station, and shower building open for the season in May.
SOUTHEAST REGION
There was a report of a morning dove with an egg between the March 12 and 16 in the City of Sheboygan. There have been reports of a gray tree frogs calling, and a garter snake out and about in Washington County.
Havenwoods State Forest - Song sparrows, bluebirds, blue-winged teal, downy and hairy woodpeckers, bufflehead and wood ducks, flickers, kestrels, fox sparrows, meadowlarks, great blue heron, Cooper's hawks, and a bald eagle flying over have all been seen or heard recently. Also, mourning cloak butterflies have been spotted.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Water levels are ideal for steelheading on some of southeastern Wisconsin’s smaller tributaries. Larger river systems still have some strong flows, but they have been dropping over the last several days. Rain is in the forecast all week, which could make tributary fishing quite challenging.
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, the Sheboygan and Pigeon rivers were producing some steelhead on flies. In the Sheboygan harbor, anglers have been catching good numbers of brown trout off the south pier. Spawn sacs have been effective, as well as a variety of spoons and crankbaits. The launch piers are now in the water at Deland Park, and boaters have been catching limits of browns on spoons and spawn.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, shore anglers continue to catch fair numbers of 2- to 3-pound brown trout in the harbor and near the power plant. Spoons and spawn sacs have been effective.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, flows are still high on the Milwaukee River, but some steelhead have been taken out of the Menomonee River at Miller Park as well as out of Oak Creek. Flies have been productive in both places. At the lakefront, some brown and rainbow trout have been taken by the Summerfest grounds. Browns have been hitting spawn or minnows, and steelhead have been taking blue & silver spoons. Boaters launching at Bender Park have been catching good numbers of browns at the Oak Creek Power Plant, and shore anglers fishing at Bender with spawn have been taking a good number of browns as well.
Racine County - On the Root River in Racine flows remain high, but the river is fishable. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, March 26. Approximately 240,000 Chambers Creek strain eggs have been taken so far. DNR crews will spawn fish again Thursday morning. Above the weir, the most steelhead action has been just below the Horlick dam, where large brightly colored egg imitations have been producing the most fish. Downstream of the facility most steelhead have come from the deeper bends of the river in Island Park. Chartreuse egg patterns and large black wooley buggers or egg sucking leeches have been taking the most fish.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha steelhead and browns have been caught by anglers fishing the harbor. Water levels on the Pike River are good, but fishing has been slow.
Inland fisheries team report
The ice is now gone from most area lakes. Anglers are concentrating their efforts on the dark bottom bays that warm quickly. Crappies and bluegills are the main target. The stocking of rainbow trout in over 50 Urban Ponds throughout the region has begun. Stocking should be completed in time for the for the Kid's Fishing Clinics on April 14. For more information call the Urban Fishing hotline at (414) 263-8494.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - The lakes are opening up and it's time to get the boats out. Look for good panfish action in protected bays with dark bottoms. The panfish tend to head into those areas after a couple of warm and sunny days. Northern pike are now spawning and walleyes will soon follow. Remember that the gamefish seasons are closed on most inland waters and it is not legal to "practice" fish for gamefish during the closed season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Wyalusing State Park - Spring has indeed arrived at Wyalusing State Park! The ice is off at the boat landing and throughout the backwaters. Time to dust off your canoes, kayaks, and other craft. From the bluffs, visitors can see bald eagles in their intricate mating flights. On March 17, 197 eagles were spotted from Bagley Bottoms (just a few miles south of Wyalusing State Park) to Ferryville (north of Prairie du Chien), with 143 eagles counted near Ferryville. Look for them at The Knob, Point Lookout, Sentinel Ridge, and Henneger Point. The first white pelicans of the season were reported March 16. A flock of 350 pelicans flew over Prairie du Chien, followed 10 minutes later by a flock of 21, all heading north. Waterfowl are easily observed as they raucously lift off or land in the water nearby. In fact, Wyalusing State Park is one of the best places in Wisconsin to bird. A variety of habitats and the nearby Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers make it a prime destination for woodland, prairie, shore, and water species, both year-round residents and migrants. Spring is a great time of year for observing species that are otherwise obscured by foliage. Bluebirds have recently been seen in the park near the vicinity of the bluebird houses. Other sightings at the feeders and in the park include: cardinals, blue jays, crows, mourning doves, rooster pheasant, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, red bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, red headed woodpecker, tree sparrows, tufted titmice, house finches, song sparrows, turkey vultures, kestrels, red-winged blackbirds, and red tailed hawks. New arrivals for this week include a fox sparrow near the office feeders, and killdeer. Staff are happy to help with a bird checklist and information about what species have recently been spotted in the park. Sand Cave Trail is a good choice for an early spring jaunt. The trail bed is dry except along a couple of short stretches, which are easily navigable, even though a little damp. Sand Cave is always a view worth the hike but, this time of year, spring melt waters trickle down over its lip, and the saturated sandstone weeps. The tinkling music of intermittent streams is a welcome companion on your way. Look for emerging spring ephemerals. Sharp-lobed hepaticas are already starting to bloom. Romping gray and fox squirrels will delight visitors, and deer are plentiful in this area of the park. Mourning cloaks are flitting in the sunshine, their apparent delicacy belied by the fact that they are among our longest-lived butterflies, surviving for close to a year in the imago, or adult, stage. Old Immigrant Trail will take visitors on a relaxing springtime stroll along the Wisconsin River. Quartz drusy, covering chunks of flint and chert, sparkles in the early spring sunbeams that filter through the still leafless trees. Look for scarlet cup fungi as they vividly perform their rather mundane, but necessary, task of reducing fallen wood to soil.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Jefferson County - Anglers were catching some legal size walleye on the upper Rock and Crawfish rivers. A couple 24- to 27-inch female walleye have been caught in Watertown on minnows. Most of the fish were males between 14 and 16 inches. The best success has been below the lower dam and by Bethesda in Watertown. Some northern pike were also being caught in the same area on minnows. The pike caught so far are beat up from spawning. In Hustisford, walleye fishing success has been slow. There is a lot of water coming over the dam so the current is swift. On the Crawfish River by Milford, a few walleye were being caught but the water is pretty high. Dipnetters are having good success dipping carp and buffalo out of the rivers for smoking. Most of the bridge railings are being used at this time of year for dipnetting. A few garter snakes as well as spring peepers and leopard frogs have been seen due to the warmer weather. Most of the Canada geese are now paired up getting ready to nest. Both the upper Rock and Crawfish rivers are out of their banks in many locations. Jefferson County has enacted an emergency slow-no-wake ordinance on the Rock River to keep boaters from creating damaging wakes along the shorelines.
WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow river State Park - Outstanding weather brought out the visitors over the past weekend, even some campers. Fog was the morning weather feature with the frost melting out of the ground. Rainfall has been light since the heavy weather missed. Trails are free of ice and snow and they are generally dry and soft as of March 27. Trails have scattered areas of wet and mud. Rain is predicted. The Willow River has been relatively stable and clearing. It has been coming up a little during the middle of the day and then dropping back to normal level. The lake is open in the upper two-thirds and it should be clear of ice by the weekend. Bluebirds have returned to the park. The next Full Moon Hike is Saturday, March 31 at the Nature Center at 7 p.m. A presentation about bluebirds and kingfishers will be first, then the hike. A vehicle admission sticker is required.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Ice is rapidly leaving rivers and lakes. The main channel and backwaters of the Mississippi River and most boat landings are free of ice and accessible. Fishers have been having sporadic success catching walleyes on wing dams and below Dresbach Dam on the Mississippi River, and catching northern pike, crappies and perch in area backwaters. Fishers have had limited success catching walleyes below the Neshonoc Dam on the La Crosse River. Fishers are reminded although the La Crosse River below the Neshonoc Dam is open to game fishing year round all other general inland regulations apply and that Lake Neshonoc above the Neshonoc Dam is currently closed to game fishing under the general inland regulations. Also the Black River for 300 feet below the Onalaska Spillway is closed to all fishing March 15 through April 25. Signs of spring continue with spring peepers active in the area, turkeys displaying in the fields and multitudes of birds returning to and migrating through the area. During the last week a large influx of migrating birds has occurred. Many ducks and geese and some tundra swans are present. Different migration routes in spring result in most swans bypassing western Wisconsin in spring. Other recent sightings include flocks of pelicans and snow geese. Chipmunks are emerging from their winter burrows. Chipmunks are generally forest creatures, have large, fur-lined cheek pouches for carrying nuts and seeds, black and white facial stripes, and five dark stripes separated by four light stripes on the backs and sides of their bodies. Instead of depending on stored body fat to sustain them during hibernation, chipmunks awaken every couple weeks during the winter to feed on stored nuts and seeds. There are two species of chipmunks in Wisconsin: the eastern chipmunk, which is found statewide, and the least chipmunk, which is relegated to about the northern half of the state. Eastern chipmunks can be differentiated from their smaller cousins by their size and back stripes which do not cross the rump. Back dorsal stripes of least chipmunks, on the other hand, extend all the way to the base of their tails. Chipmunks typically breed from late March to late April, with two to seven blind and hairless young being born after about a one month gestation. Baby chipmunks are weaned in about 40 days. Chipmunks are preyed upon by long-tailed weasels, short-tailed weasels or ermine, bobcats, red fox, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, snakes, and cats.
Buffalo River State Trail - The trail is but soft and muddy in spots.
Great River State Trail - The trail is soft and muddy. Please use caution when walking. Bald eagles have been seen along the water and in the trees along Lake Onalaska, especially near the spillway which is about 1/4 mile north on the Great River State Trail from the Irvin Street parking lot..
Merrick State Park - Hiking trails have some snow in the woods and the remaining trails are soft and muddy in spots. Fishing has been slow. Both boat ramps are free of ice.
Perrot State Park - North facing trails still have some snow remaining. Other trails are clear but soft and muddy in spots. Fishing has been slow. Lots of waterfowl have returned to the Bay. This past week eagles, swans and mallards are a few that have been seen.
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Turkey Vultures have returned and can be seen soaring. Sandhill cranes have returned and can be heard in the mornings. The Horse camp and Group camp will open May 1. Horse trails will open May 1 also.
Crawford County - A week ago the Mississippi River stage topped out at 12 feet. This week the river slowly fell and is at 11.3 feet. The river’s forecast is a slow rise back to 12 feet by the end of the week. Both the Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers are also full of water. Last week’s warm temperature and some rain caused all the ice to leave. Most if not all the backwater areas on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers are now ice free. All the boat landings in the area are open; however, some do not have their piers out yet. A fair amount of debris is floating downstream on both river systems. Boaters are urged to use caution. Barge traffic is starting to show up on the Mississippi River. Fishing action was really spotty. Early in the week the high water created some difficulties for anglers. Water in the river systems was dirty and full of floating debris. Strong current hampered panfish action. The dirty and increasing water levels made walleye/sauger fishing difficult. Most of the traditional bluegill/crappie/perch areas in the county have slowed due to the higher water. Few panfish anglers were out because of the water conditions. Bluegill and crappie action at Cold Spring was slow this week. Bluegill action on the backwaters of the Wisconsin was spotty. Walleye and sauger started to pick up late in the week. Most of the action was up by the Lynxville dam. Some decent action was happening near the MacDonald Slough and up near the dam. The boat landing at Gordon’s Bay is open. Bald eagles were still being seen throughout the county, but many have returned to the Mississippi River. Eagles can be observed tending nests along the river. Waterfowl enthusiasts can view a wide variety of ducks on Pool 9 near Lynxville/Ferryville. Robins, red-winged blackbirds, sandhill cranes and a variety of other song birds have returned to the county. The large flocks of turkeys are starting to break up a bit. Some of the gobblers have been seen displaying. Some gobbling is starting to be heard in the mornings. Rooster pheasants are actively cackling throughout the day. Unfortunately garlic mustard is really visible right now. It’s a good time of year to fight this invasive species.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Unseasonably warm weather has the Fire Danger at moderate. Burning permits are now required in the DNR intensive forest protection areas of Monroe, Jackson, Clark, Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. Individuals are encouraged to use alternatives to burning yard wastes and household paper waste by composting and recycling. Only clean dry paper products, clean dry wood is allowed to be burned. If one chooses to burn it is best to wait until the vegetation greens up. Burning permits are currently being issued for three days from 6 p.m. to midnight. Dry conditions may result in burning permits being cancelled as the spring fire season progresses. Remember you are responsible if your fire gets away. You become liable for all expenses incurred in suppressing a fire and will be responsible for all damage caused by this fire.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Geese are flying overhead in the Eau Claire vicinity and sandhill cranes are back.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Rib Mountain State Park - Trails are in good condition but wet in some areas due to melting snow and recent rains. Plenty of deer can be seen while in the woods along with other wildlife. Signs of spring are starting show. Granite Peak Ski Area is closed for downhill skiing, due to the recent warm weather and rain. The Friends of Rib Mountain have entered into an agreement with UW-Stevens Point - Schmeeckle Reserve to develop a conceptual plan for a Nature Center at Rib Mountain State Park, stay tuned for further details as the staff at Schmeeckle Reserve will be seeking public input about the proposed nature center throughout the next year. Please note this is for the proposed Nature Center only and is not for general park operations. Mountain Biking is not allowed on the trails at Rib Mountain, but mountain bike trails are available at the near by 9-mile County Recreation Area.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Whooping cranes are coming back to Central Wisconsin at and near Necedah national refuge.
Buckhorn State Park - Spring is here! Hikers have been seeing sandhill cranes and bluebirds in the savanna. Deer have been moving around the trails in early morning. The lake level is slowly rising from the winter drawdown. There are many sandbars still exposed and launches are shallow at this time. Many people have been fishing for walleyes along the Buckhorn bridge each day. Spring is a great time for taking wildlife photos for the annual photo contest. 2007 youth deer hunt applications are now available. Deadline is July 15. Sites 8, 9 and 16 are still open for camping. More sites will be opening in the next couple weeks.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/or/2007/or070329.htm
