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- Our historic March blizzard
Our historic March blizzard
Plus: More American Martens, turkeys, and snowmobile trails
Forrest Koslowski
March 19, 2026
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Mornin’ to everyone not surprised Door County won Getaway Of The Year Award. 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:
🧐 Rare animal caught lurking in Wisconsin tree
🦃 Bonus tags for Spring turkey available
❄️ Snowmobile trails briefly re-open after blizzard
⛄️STORY OF THE WEEK: Wisconsin’s historic March Madness blizzard
🧐 Rare animal caught lurking in Wisconsin tree LINK
A lucky homeowner in northern Wisconsin captured a rare video of an American Marten (essentially a very athletic, tree-dwelling weasel) hanging out in their backyard—a sighting the DNR says is incredibly uncommon.
These little guys were once wiped out in Wisconsin due to logging and trapping, but thanks to decades of reintroduction efforts, they’re slowly making a comeback in our deep forests.
Because they are our only state-listed endangered mammal, seeing one in the wild is basically like winning the Wisconsin wildlife lottery, so keep your eyes on the canopy during your next hike!
Missed out on the spring turkey drawing? Don't fret! Bonus harvest authorizations (formerly known as "leftover permits") go on sale starting Monday, March 16, with different days assigned to each zone—so mark your calendars and check the DNR’s zone map.
Heads up for the tech-savvy (and the tech-challenged): You’ll need to create a Go Wild username and password before you jump in the queue this year. Do it now so you aren't stuck stuck behind a loading screen while everyone else is snagging their tags.
Permits are $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents, sold at a rate of one per day. With the season kicking off with the Youth Hunt on April 11, it’s time to start practicing those calls in the mirror!
❄️ Snowmobile trails briefly re-open after blizzard LINK
Mother Nature finally remembered it was winter! Thanks to a massive late-season blizzard that dumped record snow across the Northwoods, snowmobile trails in counties like Vilas and Oneida have officially reopened, giving riders a "bonus" season we didn't think we'd get.
This is a huge win for local businesses in the "Snowmobile Capital of the World" (looking at you, Eagle River), who have had a tough go this year with the mild weather—so if you've been itching to get the sled out, this is your sign to head north.
Just a heads-up: it’s late March, so conditions can change faster than a brat on a grill. Some trails still have soft spots or closed segments near waterways, so check the local club maps and enjoy the powder while it lasts!
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⛄️STORY OF THE WEEK: Wisconsin’s historic March Madness blizzard LINK
If you woke up this week and couldn't see your car—or your neighbor’s house—you weren't alone. Wisconsin just went toe-to-toe with a historic, record-shattering winter storm that turned the Badger State into a giant snow globe from Saturday night through Monday evening.
This wasn’t just a "dusting" for the driveway; it was a potent Colorado Low that decided to park itself right over northeast Wisconsin. The storm played every card in the deck: starting with heavy snow, pivoting to a messy wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet, and even throwing in some thundersnow (because why not?). By Sunday afternoon, the gloves were off as 60 mph wind gusts turned the Fox Valley and Door County into a complete whiteout.
By the Numbers: Historic and Heady
The stats coming out of this one are genuinely mind-boggling. We aren't just talking about "a lot of snow"—we're talking about the history books:
Sturgeon Bay: A staggering 33 inches of snow.
Green Bay: Clocked in at 26.6 inches, officially its second-largest snowstorm on record.
Wausau: Smashed its all-time single-day snowfall record with 23.4 inches on Sunday alone.
Impacts across the state were severe. In Ephraim, a 10-foot snow drift was reported, while municipalities across the Northwoods were forced to suspend plowing because the wind was filling in the roads faster than the trucks could clear them. Power outages hit thousands, particularly in Door and Marinette Counties, and the weight of the heavy, wet snow even caused building collapses in Sturgeon Bay.
Whether you spent the weekend hunkered down with a puzzle or digging out a path for the dog, this is one for the "I remember when" files. Stay warm, stay safe, and maybe keep that shovel handy—spring is coming... eventually.
Now get out 'der.
WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL
Last Week's Trivia Check
We asked which native Wisconsin amphibian survives the winter by completely freezing solid. This was a tough one, but 32% of you knew your frozen frogs!
The Correct Answer: Wood Frog.
The Takeaway: The Wood Frog produces a natural "antifreeze" using highly concentrated glucose (blood sugar) packed into its vital organs. This allows up to 65% of the water in its body to freeze into solid ice without rupturing its cells. When the March sun warms the forest floor, their heart magically restarts, and they hop off to the nearest vernal pool to mate!
This Week's Trivia
This past weekend, Wisconsin was hammered by a historic mid-March blizzard. While readers in the far southern counties saw just a handful of inches to brush off their cars, folks in central and northeastern Wisconsin were completely buried by intense snowfall rates and massive, wind-whipped drifts.
According to the final National Weather Service tallies, which Wisconsin region recorded the highest snowfall total of the entire storm, peaking at a staggering 33 inches?Give it a gut check and click a response below: |
MEME OF THE WEEK 😆
A review from the trail… Martens in this issue!
Well, how'd we do this week? |
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