Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report
Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/or/WDNR Outdoor Report as of February 9, 2012After yet another week of mild temperatures and no snow, winter recreation conditions continued to deteriorate in most areas. The far north continues to be the only area with complete snow cover, and even there southern hillsides are getting thin and bare spots. Snowmobile trails remain open in about a dozen northern counties, with conditions ranging from poor to fair, with a few areas still reporting good, but heavily used trails.
Prior to colder temperatures that arrived mid-week, lake ice conditions had continued to worsen, with a number of areas reporting increased areas of open water in southern and central Wisconsin, with additional reports of trucks and other vehicles breaking through the ice.
With a record number of spearers expected, fisheries officials are hoping the colder weather will improve ice conditions on the Lake Winnebago system for this Saturday?s opening of the lake sturgeon spearing season. State fish managers say that while the system has a good population of trophy sized fish and higher harvest caps, ice conditions remain the big question mark. Spearers should check with local clubs and sport shops around Lake Winnebago and the Upper River Lakes for the latest information on ice conditions. A record 12,680 people bought licenses to participate in the seasons. More information about the season, videos, slide shows and articles about lake sturgeon and the season can be found on sturgeon news feature page of the DNR website.
There is very little good ice on Green Bay, though some ice anglers continue to venture out where there is some ice along shore, with fair reports for whitefish and some smaller perch. Open water anglers continued to have some success for brown and rainbow trout at Lake Michigan harbors. Ice fishing continued to be on the slow side on most inland lakes, but with some reports of action picking up, especially for walleye on northern flowages and on some southern rivers.
Deer are moving freely with the reduced snow pack and are being observed feeding in fields in the evening hours. Some turkeys were seen strutting last week when temperatures were in the 40s and 50s and pheasants have been herd crowing. Wolves have been heard howling as they define their breeding territories. Great horned and barred owls have also been calling. Some bluebirds have been reported in the south throughout the winter, but more numbers are being seen, so now is the time to clean out and disinfect bluebird houses. Another sign of the approaching spring -- male cardinals are being heard singing.
This is the last big weekend for candlelight events on state properties, most of which have been held as candlelight hikes this year because of lack of snow. As of Thursday, there were still nine candlelight events scheduled for Saturday night, with events at Lake Kegonsa State park and Peshtigo River State Forest cancelled due to lack of snow and icy conditions. As always call ahead to confirm events and get the latest conditions.
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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
DNR Northern Region
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - February may not seem to be the month for going to the beach. No swimmers, sunbathers, or sand castles will be seen along the Lake Superior shoreline during this time of year. What beach-goers will find now are ice formations that makes the landscape look quite different than what they would find in the summer time. The minimal snow on the beach also makes beach combing easy but people are encouraged to use extreme caution if venturing out on the ice. The freeze/thaw cycles have created fast and icy conditions at the Afterhours Ski Trail as is typical in late season skiing. The Brule River State Forest staff are filling in bare spots with more snow Thursday and will groom the trails in preparation for the candlelight ski this weekend. Skiers can expect some decent ski conditions once the trails are groomed. The Afterhours Candlelight Ski will be taking place Saturday Feb. 11, from 6 - 9 p.m. at the Brule River State Forest Afterhours Ski Trail. Two miles of cross-country ski trails will be lit by candles and moonlight. After skiing come sit around the warm bonfire and have some hot cocoa or cider that will be provided in the warming house. A grill will be provided for cooking whatever you would like to bring to cook. This event is free, no trail pass are required. For more information call the Brule River State Forest at 715-372-5678.
Ashland DNR Service Center area
Iron County - Cross-country trails are still skiable, but very hard and fast. Snowshoeing should be good with the colder weather making the crust hard. Ice fishing has slowed down with the full moon; anglers were still catching fish but have to move more to find them. Grouse are seen budding on mountain ash and aspen trees. Coyote hunters are harvesting a few nice animals.
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area - Frozen ground has made good conditions for timber sales and blow down clean up. These conditions have also been beneficial for mowing wetland fringes for grouse and woodcock habitat. Early successional habitat created by this mowing provides nesting cover for Neotropical migrants as well. Hiking trails have been cleared from blow down on Crex Meadows and Fish Lake. Rough legged hawks, northern shrikes, and common redpolls are regularly seen. The warm weather last week brought a couple of trumpeter swans back to the area. Otters have also been more active. To see their signs, look for a run-run-slide pattern, just like Morse code ? dot-dot-dash.
Washburn County - Walleye and panfish action is starting warm up. Most groups of anglers have been catching enough for a meal or two. Some large walleyes, over 25 inches, have been caught in the last week. Recent warm weather melted the little snow that was on the snowmobile trails. Places where the sun hits the trails are bare dirt.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Even with the milder weather of late, ice thickness remains in the 14- to 16-inch range on most lakes in the Park Falls area. Snow depth on the lakes has dropped a bit, but there are scattered areas that still have 5 to 6 inches of heavy grainy snow. This can make for difficult travel in spots and 4WD is required to get through many of these areas, as some of them have also developed slush underneath. Walleye have continued its generally slow trend of the last few weeks and most anglers are reporting some very slow action. There are a few anglers that have been having some success and they have been fishing in the 7- to 12-foot depth and using small sucker minnows on their tip-ups. Deeper weed edges, mid-depth break lines and deep edges of rock bars have produced the best action and the hour or so before dark has been most productive time. Panfish have also been pretty tough to catch in the last week and anglers have really had to be mobile to get any kind of consistent action. Some fair catches of perch have been made over the mud flats and near weed beds, with small fatheads producing the best action. Crappie have been quite tough to find, and the few that have been caught are being found suspended up off the bottom in the deeper water areas. Northern pike fishing has been okay, with some decent catches of 20- to 26-inch fish being made on large golden shiners in 4 to 6 feet of water.
Price County - Unseasonably warm weather for late January to early February has limited snowmobile traffic. A mild winter has given winter beaver trappers better access to beaver ponds and made trapping through the ice easier. Ice fishing success for panfish has increased, particularly for crappies on some of the smaller lakes. Numerous healthy looking deer are being observed feeding in fields in the evening hours at several locations in the southwestern part of the county.
Taylor County - Fewer ice anglers are participating in annual ice fishing activities as the winter draws on. Some success has been observed on area lakes. Panfish, bass, and northern pike were still being caught. Coyote hunters are frustrated with the poor snow conditions and snowmobile trails are yet to open. The Taylor County Sportsmen's Club has financed a deer trapping and data collection project on the National Forest in Taylor County. Area High Schools constructed the traps needed to catch the deer and biology classes area participating in the data collection and release of the deer captured.
Flambeau River State Forest - There are still about 4-5 inches of snow on the ground but the banks on the south side are starting to show some grass. Snowmobile trails are still open and in fair conditions but expect some bare spots. The Flambeau Hills Ski trail is in good to excellent condition and was groomed Saturday after the candlelight ski, but tends to be a bit on the icy side with the warmer temps. Local anglers are reporting bluegills are biting, the perch not so much, but good walleye fishing especially in the late afternoon.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Forest County - Snowmobile trails are open despite above average temperatures. Bare ground can be seen in open areas of the trails, but there is plenty of snow through the woods. The recent warmer weather brought slush to area lakes, but most still have 1-2 feet of ice. Use caution while driving vehicles on smaller lakes.
Vilas County - The recent string of warm weather and high use has taken a significant toll on snowmobile trails. Many bare spots are found particularly on south facing slopes and along snowmobile routes. There is also a significant amount of slush on area lakes making vehicle travel difficult in some areas. Some eagles have been seen working on solidifying their nests along the Wisconsin River.
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - All cross-country ski trails have thin spots after the warm weather. All Madeline Trail loops were groomed Feb. 7 and are in fair to good condition. The Escanaba Trail Pallette Lake loop (green) was groomed Feb. 7 and is in a good condition. All Raven Trail loops were groomed Feb. 7 and there are thin spots on the red and yellow loops, with fair to good conditions. McNaughton Trail was groomed Feb. 6 and has thin spots along the lake on red loop with fair to good conditions.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area - Despite spring like temperatures for the past week, there is still about 10 inches of snow on the ground. Ski and snowmobile trails remain in great shape. With this week?s more normal temperatures, snowshoeing the back country will be excellent as conditions should be such that snowshoers can stay on top and not break through. Ice fishing on the flowage remains somewhat slow. Be cautious on the ice near inlets and outlets. Rivers and creeks opened quite a bit during this past week?s warm weather.
Rhinelander DNR Service Center area
Oneida County - A truck broke through the ice on the Rhinelander Flowage this week. The truck was partially submerged in 7 feet of water. This incident occurred within 100-feet of a marked snowmobile trail. The truck is presumed to be a total loss and there were no injuries associated with the incident. With the recent warm weather, ice conditions can change fast so don't assume that just because it is early February the ice conditions are safe. The snowmobile trails in the Rhinelander area are in poor condition. Bass and northern have been biting in the Rhinelander area but other species such as walleye have not been biting.
Antigo DNR Service Center area
Langlade County - With all things considered, the recreational trails are in good shape. Snowmobilers will find the trails in good shape in the northern part of the county. The cross-country ski trails are in acceptable shape, but patchy under the conifers. The deer are taking advantage of the popple (aspen) blow downs from last summer's windstorm. They're finding the mature trees that blew down and still have fresh browse available for them.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - There is not only no snow in the area, but not much frost in the ground either. Wildlife crews were still able to pound steel posts into the ground in the woods last week and many areas near the bay have little to no frost. Ice conditions are still decent on most lakes but vary widely from lake to lake and on each lake as well. Open water is common where there is flow, while nearly 12 to 20 inches of ice can be found on some inland lakes. Some slush has started to accumulate in the bays and other low areas on the flowages every lake is different, so as always everyone must exercise caution and use good judgment when venturing out. Fishing remains slow throughout the area with a few finicky panfish being caught near dawn and dusk, with perch action being the best. Little activity at bird feeders indicates that birds are having no trouble finding suitable food on their own. Turkeys have been seen strutting and pheasants heard crowing. A flock of red polls was seen near Oconto last week. Many species of hawks have been seen hunting the snowless fields, including--harriers, rough legged, and red-tails. Deer are finding open areas of grass in wooded areas and can be seen feeding during early morning and late afternoon hours. A few people have reported finding shed antlers.
Oconto County - Geano Beach anglers have been targeting the reef south of the public landing for whitefish using rattle spoons and jigging raps. Ice conditions range from 4 to 10 inches. Some perch were being reported by anglers working closer to shore south of the access. Oconto Breakwater was producing some whitefish along with perch, jigging live bait is the key.
Shawano County - Ice conditions continue to deteriorate especially at landings and along the north shore of lakes. Smaller lakes have better ice. The Wolf River and Channel are starting to open up so travel can be dangerous. A few vehicles have broken through in the past week or so. Fishing has slowed down considerably. Lack of snow has hampered small game hunting especially coyote and fox. Lack of snow has also eliminated any snowmobiling in the area. Waterfowl can still be found in the area in large numbers. Mallards and Canada geese can be seen flying from the area corn fields back to the open water below the Shawano dam or along the channel at the mouth of Shawano Lake.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - Anglers have been successful in the limited areas they can get to along the western shore of the Bay of Green Bay with the constantly changing and deteriorating ice conditions. Snowmobiling has been limited to frozen water bodies where there is enough ice. Voyageur Park anglers have been targeting perch, walleye, and whitefish. There is very little ice left and as of Sunday as many people were open water fishing as there were ice fishing. Ice anglers are using jigging raps tipped with minnows for walleye and rattle spoons tipped with minnow heads or wax worms for perch and whitefish. Shore anglers were casting jig heads and twister bodies. Sunset Beach anglers were targeting perch in 10 feet of water with the most productive technique being tip ups with minnows. The nicer fish were being caught early morning and late afternoon. Perch were being caught in the Duck Creek jigging with waxworms and minnows with many small fish being caught. Whitefish have been the hot bite at Bayshore Park, with anglers reporting limits earlier in the week with it slowing down by the weekend.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Anglers have been fishing off the Stone Quarry landing at Sturgeon Bay, targeting whitefish with good success. Ice conditions have been on the poor side with only 5-6 inches of good ice. Perch fishing has been slow inside of Sawyer Harbor, with smaller fish making up most of the catches. Larson's Reef has been producing some walleyes for some local anglers. Ice conditions along the reef are poor with only walking being advised. Anglers are catching numbers of small perch inside Little Sturgeon Bay. Most anglers were targeting perch in 5-15 feet of water. Whitefish have been biting well with numbers being caught off Wood Lane in about 20 feet of water. Jigging spoons and jigging raps tipped with a minnow head or wax worm have been working the best. Lime Kiln Road has been producing good numbers of whitefish, but ice conditions have been deteriorating steadily so caution is advised. Whitefish have been keeping the anglers happy at Volk's Reef, with a few perch being caught as well.
Peninsula State Park - Snow depth in the park is minimal with many bare spots. There is not enough snow to groom ski trails and snowshoe trails are in poor condition due to lack of snow. Hiking is allowed on all trails in the park at this time due to the lack of snow for winter sports; however, please be careful since some trails are very icy. The snowmobile trails and sledding hill are closed.
Potawatomi State Park - There is not much snow left on the ground. A couple of ice shanties remain on Sawyer Harbor, but most have been moved very close to shore. Some perch and whitefish were caught over the past few days.
Kewaunee County - Ice conditions have still been pretty good off Red River Park with most anglers walking or driving ATVs on to the ice. Most anglers were catching good numbers of whitefish on jigging spoons. A few perch and the occasional walleye were being caught as well.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Green Lake County - After the warm weekend, area lakes have become very dangerous with areas of thin ice. Big Green Lake has areas of open water with ice 2 to 3 inches in most places. Bays on Green Lake do have some safe walking ice but anglers should use caution. Several large northern pike were caught over the weekend on Lake Puckaway, and Little Green Lake is continuing to produce good numbers of panfish.
Waupaca County - Little snow is left, making it tough for winter recreation activities. Panfish have been biting on area lakes, with most small lakes having 6 to 8 inches of ice.
Waushara County - Most snow cover is gone. Chickadees and cardinals have begun singing. We have even had a report of tick being active.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
The 2012 Lake Winnebago lake sturgeon spearing seasons open Saturday with a record number of spearers expected, a robust population of trophy sized fish, and higher harvest caps, state fish managers say. The ice conditions are the big question mark. State recreation safety officials urge spearers to check with local clubs and sport shops around Lake Winnebago and the Upper River Lakes for the latest information on ice conditions and to keep safety as the top priority. A record 12,680 people bought licenses to participate in the seasons and they will have more opportunity to harvest fish: DNR raised harvest caps as the system's sturgeon population continued to grow. The system now boasts an estimated 16,560 adult females and 30,260 adult males in the breeding stock, and many of those are really big fish, fish managers say. Last year, spearers harvested 94 fish weighing more than 100 pounds, about 7.5 percent of the 1,426 fish harvested. That's up from less than 1 percent in most years, and fish managers expect another record-breaking year in 2012. Regulation changes developed through a joint effort by DNR and the Winnebago Citizens sturgeon Advisory Committee since 1993 have led to the increase in sturgeon numbers and trophy sized fish. More information about the season, videos, slide shows and articles about lake sturgeon and the season can be found on DNR's sturgeon news feature:
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/features/#fea3DNR Southeast Region
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Lapham Peak Unit - The entire man-made snow cross-country ski loop (1.2K) has been groomed with a new track set. The skate lanes are in very good shape but the track was set with limited success due to hard packed snow/ice in spots. New snow was pushed around Saturday night, which held up well during warmer daylight temperatures. The trail will continue to be groomed every evening and new snow added as needed. Skiing has been best during morning and evening hours. Peak Nordic Kid lessons are held on Monday nights, Free Ski lessons are held on Tuesday nights and Ski Races are held on Wednesday nights. Please understand that a small amount of trail congest may occur during these events.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan anglers in the harbor have taken a few northern pike, and rainbow and brown trout on minnows, but fishing has been generally slow. There is ice in the marina that is not safe for foot travel, but anglers have been fishing from the docks. Some anglers have also been fishing off the south pier, with a few brown trout taken.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, open water fishing near the power plant has been hit-or-miss for brown trout. Days that fish are not biting in the harbor, some anglers have had success casting crank baits from the pier.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, boaters continue to have consistent brown trout action in the harbor, and they are catching some rainbows as well. Trolling has produced fish, as has jigging or soaking spawn. Open water anglers fishing behind the Summerfest grounds have also been catching some brown trout and occasional rainbows, and spawn has produced most fish for them. There is no ice currently in the inner harbor, but conditions can change quickly.
Racine County - The Racine harbor had fishable ice, but conditions have deteriorated with the current warm temperatures. Anglers have been fishing from the docks and have been catching browns along with some rainbows, and fish had been caught on spawn and Gulp.
Kenosha County - Open water can be found in the Kenosha harbor. Casting small spoons or using tube jigs or spawn sacs should produce some brown and rainbow trout.
Plymouth DNR Service Center area
Washington County - With the warm temperatures and lack of snow, turkey breeding activity has been picking up. Some turkeys were seen strutting last week when temperatures were in the 40s and 50s. Now is a good time to watch mallards doing their "head bobbing" courtship behavior wherever they can be seen in open water areas. A few February hunters have been trying for coyotes and rabbits on Theresa, Allenton and Jackson wildlife areas. The lack of snow has caused local goose numbers to start rising again throughout the area.
DNR South Central Region
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - Unseasonable warm weather has melted most snow cover in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, and trails are in poor condition for snowshoeing. Trails are also muddy and slick in some spots making for difficult hiking conditions as well. High temperatures have also created poor conditions for ice fishing. Activity has dropped off on backwaters and sloughs. Some anglers have been seen shore fishing on the main channel of the river, but success rates are unknown.
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County - The weather has gotten cooler for the second week of February. Ice fishing is good, and several bass were being caught on the Mississippi River near Bagley. Get out and enjoy it now before it melts. Don't for get to stock your bird feeders. Several swans are wintering along the Lower Wisconsin State River way near Woodman. Bald eagles can be seen feeding along the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers. With mild weather, it's easy to hike out and see them.
Green County - Unfortunately the snowmobile trails in the area are still looking like they will remain closed for the foreseeable future. With all the melt over the last few weeks the hunters in the area, be them coyote, deer or whatever, have it a little harder seeing the game. On the flip side, if this keeps up through the rest of the season, one has to think this might prove easier for the deer and other game to make it through the winter a little healthier. The ice in the area is still spotty, with recent thaw and freezing conditions, but anglers that brave the conditions are still finding a good supply of fish.
Iowa County - The Wisconsin River has opened up with the warmer weather. People have seen deer grazing during the day on winter wheat. Turkeys are out foraging in the sun and cardinals have been spotted at bird feeders. With warm weather the snow has been melting; however, this is still a great time to get out and take a hike in the woods.
Lafayette County - There is very little snow left in the county.
Wyalusing State Park - Ice fishing pressure has drastically dropped off since the last weekend in January when there were about 30 vehicles at the park boat landing. This could mean that fishing success has also dropped off, but there are still ice anglers trying their luck every day. Mississippi River level remains unchanged for the last few days at 8.1 feet. No matter if the fish are biting or not, it is still nice to get out on the ice with fellow anglers. Cross-country ski trails were groomed on Tuesday, February 7. Whitetail Meadows Trail was tracked and is still 95 percent snow covered. The volunteer groomer described that trail as ?skiable.? The south loop of Turkey Hollow and roadway to Henneger Point is also tracked. Warmer than normal temperatures for this time of year are responsible for ?less than ideal? ski conditions. According to the forecast for the next few days, the remaining snow cover should remain intact as temperatures are expected to stay below freezing every day except for Thursday when temperatures will soar close to 35 degrees. Night time temps through Sunday will hover between single digits and upper teens. All hiking trails are still snow covered. Please remember, no pets or walking on the ski trails. Both can quickly ruin a well groomed trail. Bird sightings at the park office feeders include: blue jays, juncos, cardinals, gold finches, mourning doves, red-bellied woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, purple finches, cardinals, and the local sharp-shinned hawk. Bald eagles can sometimes be seen near the park entrance as well as from the bluffs. An exciting discovery was made on Monday, February 6 by a local bird enthusiast. One of his favorite haunts is in the pine trees near the south loop of Homestead Campground. As he was walking through the pines, a pine cone just happened to drop in front of him, causing him to look up. And what to his amazement did he see? A flock of white-winged crossbills! He said they were feeding silently on the pine cones. He went on to say that the birds are nomadic, dependant on food source. So here on Monday, possibly gone by today.
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Dodge County - Walleyes and crappies are biting well on the Rock River in Hustisford. Recent warm weather and high use has deteriorated the ice near shore on Fox Lake. Trucks recently broke through at two of the landings, creating large open holes at those landings. Please use extreme caution if venturing out onto the ice. There has been good success with moderate size crappies lately along with some very nice northern pike and walleye.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Columbia County - With the warm temperatures, Whalen Grade (a back bay of Lake Wisconsin) opened up considerably and triggered a large response by avian users. Hundreds of diving ducks were noted earlier this week, along with many bald eagles circling around looking for a meal. Bald eagles are still plentiful around the dam and Eagle Island in Sauk Prairie. Canada geese are seen coming back north already. Panfishing was reported to be very "hot" in multiple locations late last week. Lakes and most open fields are free from snow. People should check on-line fire burning restrictions daily as outdoor fires require a burning permit and allowable burning times.
Dane County - Recent warm weather conditions have deteriorated most of the snow cover. County snowmobile trails are closed and cross-country skiing options are very limited with area trails and frozen waters having little to no snow cover. Sport fishing action on area lakes has been light to moderate with occasional periods of good action being found during some mornings and evenings. Outdoor users are reminded to exercise caution and appropriate precautions when traveling on frozen waters especially on frozen rivers and areas of lakes with significant currents or active springs.
Sauk County - Open water fishing below the Wisconsin Dells dam picked up over the weekend and good numbers of walleyes caught. Panfish were being caught in the Wisconsin River and Lake Wisconsin bays. Ice is sketchy in places. Use caution as usual. Now is a good time to clean out bluebird houses. The houses should have any of last years nest material taken out and spray some disinfectant inside the houses. A pair of bluebirds was seen this week checking out houses. All ice users on area lakes should be careful with the freezing and thawing temperatures. There could be thin areas on lakes and sloughs. There are still a large number of eagles using the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac dam.
Badger State Trail - The northern paved section of the Badger trail is plowed and open for bicycling, roller-blading/skiiing and hiking. The remainder is open for hiking and biking. Users should remember to not use the trail if the surface is soft enough to leave tracks or ruts.
Sugar River State Trail - The trail is open for hiking and bicycling. Users should remember to not use the trail if the surface is soft enough to leave tracks or ruts.
Hunting is now closed along the trail between Monticello and Albany.
Lake Kegonsa State Park - All trails are open to hiking, but some areas are very icy. Please use caution when out on the trails. The Candlelight Ski scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11 has been CANCELLED.
New Glarus Woods State Park - All hiking and interpretive trails are open for use. Some trails surfaces are exposed, but mostly contain a mix of snow, slush and mud, especially on warmer sunny days. Tree and ground squirrels are very active during these warmer winter days. Deer are on the move but difficult to spot on the mostly brown landscape. Tracking is easy this time of year with spotting the different individual track prints, trail runways and evidence of feeding or chewing. Some migratory birds are still in the area due to the unseasonably warm temperatures. Bluebirds, robins and even yellow-rumped warblers have been spotted in the area. Resident woodpeckers, chickadees and juncos are moving about the forests as usual. Distant hoots of the barred and great horned owls can be heard as they venture through the mating and nesting season. Reptiles and amphibians are tucked away for hibernation during this winter season, but the occasional spider or insect is out during the warmer days. Some tree buds are beginning to swell with the warmer temperatures.
Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area - All trails are open with a mixture of snow, slush and exposed surfaces. Expect some standing water on warmer sunny days. Ice cover is thinning with the warmer temperatures. Cadiz lakes do contain several springs and ice thickness can vary in numerous areas. Anglers should personally check ice conditions before walking out to fish. Fishing activities have been reported slow.
DNR West Central Region
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Cross-country ski trails have closed with the warm weather melting trails. The 1.5-mile snowshoe trail is in good condition. Interest in reserving campsites for 2012 is picking up at Wildcat Mountain. Deer are moving freely with the reduced snow pack. Raptors such as eagles and hawks are common sights as their small mammal prey do not have a blanket of snow to hide under. Owls are often sitting on their nests in February. Of all our birds, they are the earliest to nest. The large owls have wingspreads up to 4 to 5 feet -- the female averages somewhat larger, heavier and darker than the male. Because of their mass of loose fluffy feathers, however, the bodies of owls are deceptively small. Eggs are laid two or more days apart, in winter, and incubation begins with the laying of the first egg. As a result the young may be widely different in size. They are covered with white fuzzy down and are blind for the first few days. Both parents share in the incubation and care of the young. The barred owl is "earless," gray with dark crossbars on the breast, and longitudinal streaks on the belly, with a yellow beak and almost black eyes. Ranging throughout the woodlands of this continent, it lays its two to four glossy white eggs in a hollow tree or in an abandoned nest of a hawk or crow. Mice and other rodents make up most of the diet. The vivid memories they give youngsters on camping trips -- with their raucous hair-raising "hoo, hoo, hoo -- hoo; hoo, hoo, hoo-hoo-aw" at night -- are never forgotten. The great horned owl is grayish brown with a white throat and yellowish under parts barred with black. With deep yellow eyes and a big black beak, its most distinctive features are its large lynx-like "ear" tufts. The nest is usually a remodeled hawk or owl's nest, but they even drive eagles from their eyries and take over. The food is extremely varied -- mostly mice, rabbits and rodents; but also includes large insects, song birds, other owls, possums, weasels and, very often, skunks. All these owls are flying mousetraps.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Black River State Forest - Snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trails are closed to snowmobiles but open to ATVs. Trails are in poor condition and likely icy in areas so use caution while riding on them. Winter temperatures are back but unfortunately no snow is in the forecast. Temperatures in the 40s over the weekend resulted in unskiable cross-country ski trails conditions. Thank you to all of those who came out for Saturday night?s candlelight hike and ski. Approximately 125-150 people enjoyed a beautiful night on the forest's lit trail and enjoyed refreshments in the warming shelter. Thank you also to the Black River Forest Trail Foundation for sponsoring this event! New for the 2012 camping season, Castle Mound campground will only be open for camping and on the reservation system from May 24 through Sept. 3 this year. Castle Mound will be closed this spring and the fall while a new entrance station and shop are being constructed. New for 2012, Pigeon Creek campground will be on the reservation system. Nine of the 38 sites will be reservable from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
Adams County - Fishing activity has been slow and the snowmobile trails are closed.
Jackson County - Warmer weather resulted in melting snow and poor conditions, causing the Jackson County Parks and Forestry to close the Jackson County trails to snowmobile use until further notice. Ice fishing conditions remain fair, with some larger sized bluegill being caught on Lake Arbutus. Successful anglers were using very small micro jigs tipped with red or pink colored bloodworm spikes. Un-baited "Rat Finkies" also seemed to work well because of the action in their tail. Aggressive bites occur when the jig is pulled all the way up and then allowed to slowly spiral down to about a foot off the bottom. Remember to tie on a leader with very light line (either 2 or 4 lb. test) when fishing for finicky panfish. Tip-downs baited with small crappie minnows will produce some crappie action near Windy Point. Two northern pike over 26 inches were caught in the East Fork inlet. Bird enthusiasts might find the warmer weather enjoyable so take a hike along the trails on the Black River State Forest. Bald eagle sightings are common along Highway 27, south of Black River Falls and east of the airport. Wisconsin is ranked as one of the highest states for bald eagle nesting in the Midwest. Remember that immature bald eagles do not have the brilliant white head or tail until they are they approach five years of age. Nesting pairs of eagles should start to venture from their winter roosting areas and begin their annual nest building rituals. The East Fork of the Black River near Hatfield is also another common place to find them.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Marathon County - Warm weather continues to deteriorate snow. Snowmobile trails are not open and have not been open in the county this year. Trappers continue to bring in fur for registration with several trappers seeing plenty of otter sign on local creeks and rivers. There are several hunter safety classes coming up in the next few months in Marathon County, check the website for listings.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - The drawdown has started on the lake and will continue through early March.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT STATE PARKS, FORESTS, AND TRAILS
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
Check with the park or forest of your choice for additional activities and special events not listed. Most events are free of charge; park admission sticker required unless otherwise noted. Events and times subject to change.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
? Brule River State Forest, Brule 715-372-5678 - Afterhours Ski Trail Candlelight Ski. Two miles of cross-country ski trails lit by candles and moonlight. After skiing come sit around the warm bonfire and have some hot cocoa or cider and that will be provided in the warming house. A grill will be provided for cooking whatever you would like to bring to cook. Free- no trail passes required. 6-9 p.m.
? Copper Falls State Park, Mellen (715) 274-5123 - Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe. Join the Friends of Copper Falls State Park for the first annual Candlelight Ski/Snowshoe on Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Both snowshoe and ski trails will be illuminated totaling over 2 miles of trail. A large bonfire will be provided and refreshments will be available. Event is weather permitting. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
? Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Grantsburg, 715-463-2739 - Snowshoe Interpretive Walk: "Please Turn up the Heat!" Friends of Crex member Dale Bohlke, will lead a snowshoe walk. We can dress in layers, but how do animals stay warm during winter? Participate in this snowshoe hike to discover the winter animal warming tricks. Dress to be outdoors for 2-2 1/2 hours. Mittens and warm boots are recommended. The tour will be held regardless of the weather. Cost is $5 and snowshoes are available for a $5 rental fee. Group size is limited to 10; please call (715) 463-2739 to make your reservation. Visitor center at 1 p.m.
? Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, (608) 356-8301 ext 140 - Learn to Snowshoe. Come and try out this fun winter activity. We?ll start out at the Nature Center with a brief introduction to snowshoeing then head out to try the equipment. Natue Center. 11 a.m. - Noon.
? Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - Candlelight Night. Experience a winter evening by candlelight as hundreds of candles are lit to guide skiers, snowshoers and hikers on separate trails. Snowshoes available for ages six and up. There are warming fires at the trailheads, and food and refreshments available at the Ice Age Center. The event is supported by the Friends of Interstate State Park. Ice Age Interpretive Center and the Camp Interstate Shelter. Event is weather permitting. 6-9 p.m.
? Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 - Who's Been Here? Tracking on Snowshoes: Exploring Nature Program. By just looking at a track, we can figure out what animal passed through the area. Master some of the tricks of snowshoeing and tracking animals in winter. If there is not enough snow for snowshoeing, we will hike the trail. To register call (920) 533-8322 by February 9, 2012. This program is best for families/groups with children over 8 years old. Ice Age Visitor Center. 10-11:45 a.m.
? Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Valentine Candlelight Ski and Hike. Celebrate Valentine?s Day early while enjoying the winter wonderland at night with family and friends. Ski or hike a two-mile trail lit by almost 200 tiki torches. Warm up afterwards by the fireplace. Refreshments will be available in the heated shelter building. Please, no pets, snowshoes or sleds. Vehicle sticker required. Supported by the Friends of Kohler-Andrae. Meet at the cross-country ski trail. Stop at office for directions. Event is weather permitting. 6-9 p.m.
? Lake Kegonsa State Park, Stoughton, (608) 873-9695 - Candlelight Ski. Event has been cancelled due to icy conditions.
? Lapham Peak Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, Delafield, (262) 646-3025 - Candlelight Ski/Hike. Just over 1 mile of candlelight skiing and hiking on the trails of Lapham Peak. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Friends of Lapham Peak, as well as live music entertainment, and the warmth of a fire while sitting inside the Trekker Lodge. Outside seating and bonfire will also available. Homestead Hollow parking lot and Trekker Lodge. Event is weather permitting. 6-9 p.m.
? Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 - How Fishers Fall in Love and Other Tales of Romance: 11 ? 11:30 a.m. and repeated 1 ? 1:30 p.m. Nature Center. Longer days trigger thoughts of finding partners among Peninsula animals like fishers, chickadees, owls and squirrels. This naturalist talk is suitable for all ages and will include fur and skull identification, and how to spot a squirrel nest. Make a Valentine?s Card from Recycled Holiday Cards: Any time, on-your-own craft activity at the Nature Center.
? Peshtigo River State Forest, Crivitz, (715) 757-3965 - Candlelight Ski and Hike. Event has been cancelled due to lack of snow.
? Pike Lake Unit - Kettle Moraine State Forest, Hartford, (262) 670-3400 - Candlelight Ski/Hike. Over 300 luminaries will light two 0.75-mile trail loops for the evening. Skiers, hikers, and snowshoers share the trails. A roaring bonfire will warm the night, and refreshments will be served in the shelter. Members of the Northern Cross Science Foundation will be on hand with their telescopes to guide visitors through the night sky. This event is supported by the Friends of Pike Lake. Meet at the South Shelter at the beach/picnic area. 6-9 p.m.
? Rib Mountain State Park, Wausau, (715) 842-2522 - Candlelight Snowshoe. Snowshoe the trails at Rib Mountain by candlelight. Supported by the Friends of Rib Mountain State Park . Meet at the concession stand. 6-8 p.m. Event is weather permitting. For more information, call (715) 581-7983 or (715) 842-2522, .
? Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Cross-country Ski Clinic. Bring your skis and join instructor John Meyer to learn about waxing and other skiing tips. The diagonal stride technique will be taught and practiced. Please pre-register by calling (262) 878-5600. Meet at Shelter #1. Ski clinic is weather dependent. 9-11 a.m. Return to Romance. Warm someone's heart this Valentine's Day with a visit to the park. Enjoy a candlelit walk, a bonfire, music fine desserts and warm drinks with your special someone(s). Pre-register and pre-pay fee is $5/adult and $1/child plus state park admission sticker. Visitor Center. Event is weather permitting. 7-9 p.m. Supported by the Bong Naturalist Association .
? Willow River State Park, Hudson, (715) 386-5931 - Candlelight Hike. Hike on trails lit by candles. Enjoy refreshments at the Nature center and bonfires at the boat launch and behind the nature center. Willow River State Park nature center. Event is weather permitting. 6-9 p.m.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
? Kettle Moraine State Forest--Southern Unit, Eagle, (262) 594-6200 - Learn about Wolves in Wisconsin. Larry and Emily Scheunemann will present a 1-hour program that focuses on the current status of the wolf recovery program in Wisconsin. They will describe some of the research techniques used to monitor the wolf population, including the use of tracking surveys and howling surveys. Forest Headquarters - 3 miles west of Eagle on Highway 59. Event is 7-8:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
? Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - Nature Storytime. Naturalist Julie Fox will share a story and activity with pre-schoolers and their parents at the Ice Age Center. It is a great opportunity for parents to get out to the park with their little ones during this time of the year! Nature Storytime will generally last between 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of participants. Program is indoors and outdoors, weather permitting, so parents should dress their children accordingly. 10 a.m.
