Ice caves open 10 years later

Plus: Dead cougar, sturgeon spearing, and wakeboat debate

Author

Forrest Koslowski
February 19, 2026

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Mornin’ to everyone cheering the Kewaskum speedskater who won another gold. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly, the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

🐟 Sturgeon spearing update

🐈 Nebraska cougar found dead on WI railroad track

🚤 Wakesurfing, wakeboats debate

🧊 STORY OF THE WEEK: Apostle Island ice caves open for 1st time since 2015

  • Even with the "un-Wisconsin" warm weather and rain putting a literal damper on Day 5, the sturgeon are still showing up—34 fish were harvested Wednesday, bringing the season total to a whopping 1,405 lake sturgeon.

  • Talk about dedication: Robert Cave flew all the way in from Wyoming, battled flight delays, and managed to snag a massive 83.1-pounder just 28 minutes after hitting the ice. If that’s not "out-of-state" luck, we don't know what is!

  • We’re officially on "Closure Watch" folks—with 83% of the adult female harvest cap already reached for the Winnebago system, the season could wrap up soon, so keep those eyes peeled on your inbox and stay safe near the melting access points!

🐈 Nebraska cougar found dead on WI railroad track LINK

  • Wisconsin’s latest visitor definitely wins the award for "Longest Commute." A young male cougar was recently found in Adams County, and GPS tracking revealed he trekked all the way from the Pine Ridge area of Nebraska—nearly 700 miles as the crow flies!

  • It turns out this big cat was a bit of a celebrity; he’d been tracked by wildlife officials since 2024, crossing rivers and highways just to see what the Dairy State had to offer. Unfortunately, his journey ended due to a vehicle collision, which is a bummer, but his travels provided scientists with incredible data on how these cats move.

  • While seeing a cougar in the Badger State is still rare, this "Nebraska Nomad" reminds us that our woods are part of a massive wildlife highway—so keep those trail cams ready, because you never know who might be passing through for a visit.

🚤 Wakesurfing, wakeboats debate LINK

  • Things are getting a little choppy in Madison as lawmakers weigh in on the "wake boat" debate. New bills are hitting the floor to decide exactly how close those massive, surf-ready waves can get to our shorelines and docks.

  • It’s a classic Wisconsin standoff: surfers want to keep catching those epic inland barrels, while homeowners and anglers are worried about shoreline erosion and stirred-up lake muck. The proposed rules would set a "no-surf zone" within 200 to 500 feet of the coast to keep everyone’s piers (and the fish) happy.

  • Whether you’re a "shred the gnar" type or a "quiet morning on the kayak" fan, the goal is to keep our 15,000+ lakes healthy so we can all keep enjoying them without literally washing each other away!

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🧊 STORY OF THE WEEK: Apostle Island ice caves open for 1st time since 2015 LINK

If there’s one thing Wisconsin winters are known for, it’s being predictably unpredictable. But every decade or so, the stars (and the temperatures) align to create something truly magical: the opening of the Apostle Islands ice caves. For the first time in over ten years, the "Deep Freeze" finally did its job, transforming the sandstone cliffs of Lake Superior into a glittering cathedral of ice.

When the National Park Service gave the green light for the caves to open on a Monday, the excitement was electric. We aren’t just talking about a few icicles hanging off a roof; we’re talking about massive, translucent curtains of blue ice and jagged "ice-onites" that make you feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of Frozen. It’s a rare phenomenon that requires a perfect cocktail of sub-zero temps and calm winds to bridge the gap between the mainland and the caves with thick, stable ice.

And boy, did the crowds show up. Thousands of people from all over the midwest donned their heaviest flannels and sturdiest boots to trek across the frozen Great Lake. For a few glorious days, it was a winter wonderland selfie-paradise.

But as quickly as the "Ice Gods" gave, they took away. Just as fast as the crowds arrived, the lake began to show its moody side. Shifting winds and a slight uptick in temperature started to threaten the stability of the ice floor. To keep everyone’s winter adventure from turning into a polar plunge, officials had to make the tough call to close the caves again.

It was a "blink and you missed it" moment, but that’s what makes the Apostle Islands so special. Sometimes, the nature’s gallery is only open for a limited time.

Now get out 'der.

WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Last Week's Trivia Check

We asked which Wisconsin animal is strictly monogamous. This was a massive stumper—59% of you guessed the Ruffed Grouse!

The Correct Answer: B) The Coyote.

The Takeaway: While the Ruffed Grouse is famous for his "drumming" display, he is actually a bit of a player—he mates with multiple hens and plays zero role in raising the chicks. The Coyote, however, is a devoted partner. Pairs often stay together for years, hunting cooperatively and raising pups as a team.

This Week’s Trivia

As the days warm up and the nights stay freezing, the sap is starting to flow in sugarbushes across the state. Boiling this sap down is a labor of love that requires evaporating a massive amount of water to concentrate the natural sugars.

On average, it takes roughly how many gallons of Sugar Maple sap to produce just one single gallon of pure Wisconsin maple syrup?

Give it a gut check and click a response below

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MEME OF THE WEEK 😆

A review from the trail… Whoop whoop, get out ‘der!

Well, how'd we do this week?

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