News & Reports
We are getting calls on many loons on land and small ponds the past 2 days. A few loons can be a normal situation of a loon accidentally landing as a mistake however, due to the many calls received over the past 24 hrs., it appears we may have a LOON FALLOUT occuring. That occurs when atmospheric conditions are such that the migrating loons develop ice on their body as they fly at high altitude and crash land when they are no longer able to fly due to the weight of the ice on their body or the interference with their flight ability. The current ice/rain and unstable air currents is a perfect set-up for this phenomena to occur.
At this time loon have been seen on land in Wausau, Gleason, Stratford, Neva, Rice Lake, Antigo, Drummond….other areas may be involved as well.
Loons cannot walk! They will need your help! If you find a loon on land or on a road or cow pasture, realize that it cannot walk. Their legs are placed to the back of the bird and are made for swimming and diving not walking.
Loons can be difficult to handle. Call REGI or Loon Rescue (phone numbers below) or your local wildlife center for advice. Do NOT TAKE THEM TO SMALL PONDS FOR RELEASE!! They cannot fly from small ponds as they need a quarter mile or more of open water to run across and get airborne.
They have sharp beaks and use the beak for defense. You can cover them with a blanket to contain them. You can transport them in a rubbermaid container with air holes in the top. Please put towels on the bottom of the container or box to cushion their V shaped keel and prevent injury.
Call REGI at 715-623-4015 or Loon Rescue at 715-966-5415
Wisconsin Water Week begins tomorrow! Water is fundamental to Wisconsin’s identity. Wisconsin Water Week is a time for everyone and anyone to learn more about what’s happening with our precious water resources and how they can be involved in protecting and restoring them. In addition to the Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point, Water Week offers local and regional in-person events as well as online opportunities for people to connect and engage with others on water-related issues.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is a government department that conveys the wisdom and influence of Wisconsin citizens in the formation of natural resource policy, research, education and conservation. Every year the WCC conducts a citizen resolution survey. If the citizen resolution can make it through the gauntlet of surveys, committee approvals and district leadership approvals, the resolution could become a state law.
An online questionnaire survey will be available through a link on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress webpage (https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing) from April 10 at noon through April 13 at noon. The link will be placed on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress webpage. Click on Spring Hearings. The online form is being run through an online survey tool. Once you sign in, simply read, and follow the directions carefully. Please consider completing the survey.
There is one advisory question on proposed changes to the muskellunge size limit. There is another question regarding bass regulations on the TFF and Trude Lake. And there are several questions regarding the use of wake boats on Wisconsin Lakes.
63. Do you support wake boats causing hazardous wakes on lakes larger than 1,500 acres to be more than 700 feet from shore or other water users? (133822)
64. Do you support prohibiting wake boats from causing hazardous wakes on lakes less than 1,500 acres? (133922)
65. Would you support the WCC and legislature working to amend existing Statutes that prohibit operation of a boat that intentionally creates a hazardous wake within 700 feet of any dock, raft, pier, buoyed restricted area, shoreline and any other watercraft? (640822)
66. Would you support the WCC and legislature creating a new state Statute that prohibits operation of a boat that intentionally creates a hazardous wake on lakes of a specific physical characteristics defined by size, depth, length and width? (640922)
67. Would you support the WCC and legislature working to amend existing Statutes to prohibit methods for intentionally magnifying wakes for wake surfing on lakes less than 1,500 acres? (641122)
SHORELINE EROSION has become an increasing concern on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and other Wisconsin lakes. The topic of erosion was discussed in two articles in the recent issue of our newsletter Driftwood, and was mentioned as a concern by members in the 2022 survey that was conducted by our association.
A recent article in the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel discusses erosion and other potential impacts generated by the increased use of wakeboard boats in Wisconsin lakes. Here is a link to the article – https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/12/18/wisconsin-residents-seek-to-minimize-damage-to-nature-from-wake-boats/69735263007/