DNR Outdoor Report for January 3, 2019

View current conditions for Wisconsin State Parks, Trails and Forests
Check out the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (exit DNR).

For current statewide information on statewide snow conditions, log onto the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).

Some timely snowfalls at the end of the year and beginning of the new year have allowed additional northern counties to open snowmobile trails and allowed more state park and forest properties to groom ski trails.

Some areas of northern and central Wisconsin received snowfalls up to 5 to 6 inches. The Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) now lists half a dozen counties with open snowmobile trails with most listing fair conditions. Nearly a dozen state park and forest properties are reporting ski conditions ranging from good to poor.

A mother and son duo enjoying the beauty of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit Zillmer ski trails on Thursday.Photo credit: James Enigl

The first candlelight event of the winter will take place this Saturday at Mirror Lake State Park. Warm temperatures in the forecast caused cancellation of another candlelight event at Blue Mound, so people planning on attending Mirror Lake should call ahead to confirm and for conditions. As of Thursday ski conditions at the park ranged from fair to poor. The Brule River State Forest is holding the 24th Annual Riverview Loppet Ski Races Saturday and are reporting good conditions with 4 to 5 inches of base on the trails. A reminder to hikers and snowshoers, once ski trails are snow covered and being groomed they are no longer open for hiking.

Ice anglers were out in good numbers on northern lakes over the holidays with reports of 6 to 12 inches of ice. However many lakes in southern Wisconsin have open water. Lakes Mendota and Monona in Madison reopened late last year after freezing over in mid-December.

Bear cubs are being born in dens now and other hardy residents such as coyotes, fishers, owls and hawks are on a constant lookout for small mammals and rabbits. Short-tailed weasels have turned to white in color with the black tail tip.

Great horned owls have begun hooting and claiming territories. Rough-legged hawks and snow buntings are numerous in the Crex Meadows area, where pine siskins are also beginning to arrive.