Early thaw triggers spring fever

There’s still lots of winter left but you wouldn’t have known it when temperatures climbed into the 40s and even hit 50 in some areas earlier this week, melting snow and making a sloppy slush on ice-covered lakes, bays and rivers.

Colder air is expected this weekend before another round of thawing temps, followed by another cooldown next weekend.

The rollercoaster weather isn’t favored by skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers, but a declining snowpack is just what shed antler hunters prefer this time of the year.

Meanwhile, it’ll be weeks before spring brown trout trollers and steelhead anglers find enough open water to pursue their passions. Still, it’s not so far off that there’s a lot of time to delay getting gear ready, either.

The same goes for the walleye run on the Fox River at DePere. Ice anglers were stationed just below open water earlier this week, but increasing currents might have put an end to that by now. Once some of the launches clear, boaters will be out in force.

No matter where you’re fishing, March means extra caution is needed as the ice begins to deteriorate. If you haven’t been out lately, check locally at a trusted bait and tackle shop for the latest advice, and areas to steer clear of.

Contest winner

A Door County sunrise along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Whitefish Dunes State Park was named the Grand Prize winner in the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin’s 11 th annual photo contest. Brad Bellisle of Oregon, Wisc., said he used a fisheye lens to incorporate the surrounding rock as a natural frame for the early morning shot over the lake.

The goal of the annual contest is to spread the word about conservation in Wisconsin, share our state’s natural beauty and engage nature photographers in conservation efforts.

The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is a statewide 501c3 nonprofit, formed in 1986 as declining budgets compromised critical programs of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources. With the support of donors and members, the Foundation has boosted private sector investment and involvement for state lands, waters and wildlife to the tune of $13 million. To date, those funds have supported more than 3,100 conservation projects and more than 4,000 field trips.

The group also hosts The Great Wisconsin Birdathon, the state’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. Learn more about field trips, grant programs and ongoing efforts at https://www.wisconservation.org/.

Spring plantings

If you’ve been thinking about making improvements in wildlife habitat in your backyard or on your back 40 this year, now’s the time to be planning for success. Even if you live in an urban or suburban area, there are little things you can do to make a big impact on helping your property become bird- and butterfly-friendly.

Native plant sales take place each spring. Take a look at this growing list of Wisconsin native plant nurseries: https://widnr.widen.net/s/rfsbfc22w6/nh0698.

The DNR is still taking orders for trees and shrubs. See what’s available, and what the cost is, at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/treeplanting/order.

There’s an effort to restore blue and green spaces in urban areas, bringing back some land and water ecosystems to provide food, water and shelter for birds and other wildlife. Read all about it at https://environmentamericas.org/.

Learn more about how you can help birds, and find out where the native plant sales are in your area, at https://www.sossaveoursongbirds.org/.

Sturgeon update

A total of 943 lake sturgeon were registered during this year’s spearing season on the Lake Winnebago system, 617 on the big lake and 326 on the upriver lakes.

There were 63 sturgeon larger than 100 pounds speared, 55 of them on Winnebago and eight on the upriver lakes. Check out some of the photos and more information at

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/fishing/sturgeon/WinnSysSturgeonSpear.
Water levels dropping

Lake Michigan water levels have dropped two inches in the past month, 11 in the past year and 44 since the record high in 2020. As of Feb. 21, levels were eight inches below the 100-year average and 20 above the record monthly low, set in 1964.