Wisconsin's Winter Recap

Mornin' to everyone who got a bit of a shock over last week's email headline, we promise no Robins were hurt (or eaten) in the making. 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.

*Hey neighbor. Thanks to everyone out 'der who supported Wiscampsin by hanging our new State Bird artwork on their wall!

What we're ope-ing about this week:

• Wisconsin's Winter Recap ❄️

• Sturgeon Guards 🐟

• Frog Listeners 🐸

Wisconsin's Winter Recap

Believe us, we REALLY didn't want to say the 'W' word again until October.

But seeing how the Spring Equinox just occurred on Monday - wait, what is that again?

• The Spring Equinox: When daytime and nighttime are of equal lengths (which occurred on Monday, March 20th at 4:24 pm in the Northern Hemisphere).

Great news, as it signals that we're finally en route to more sunshine than darkness. In three months, we'll have another three hours, seven minutes of sunlight!

So with that toasty thought to keep us warm, we thought we'd dive back into our predictions for the winter this year and compare it to what actually happened.

We were right

Crazy, but it's true.

Back in December, we (and by we, I mean the weather folks), predicted that the Wisconsin weather gods would birth a warm, wet winter.

Boy did they deliver. In Milwaukee and Madison, we experienced a near-record setting January as far as warm temps go. And the snow? Cripes, I'm on my 4th snow shovel of the year.

Some stats from around the state:

• Madison experienced about a third less "freezing days" than the 1981-2010 cumulative average, though they did have ten extra inches of snowfall than average

• Milwaukee (poor suckers) experienced 12 less inches of snow than average

• Green Bay is eight inches above their average snowfall, but an MVP quarterback short...

• Wausau, the forgotten child, is a full foot above their average snowfall

Looking ahead

Alright, better stop talking about snow before, well...

If you're not eyeing up your bikes, camping gear, canoes, etc, allow us to lay the foundation for our spring with some good news and bad news (maybe).

Good news: Our springtime temps in recent years, compared to the 1950's, yield somewhere between two to five degrees warmer.

Bad news: We're trending towards a wetter springtime, with roughly 20% more rainfall. Good for the garden, not so much for the hiking trails!

Alas, it shouldn't be too long till we can get back out 'der without the winter/muck boots on!

🖼 Wiscampsin Artwork!

When it came to our childhood art projects, mom always said: Keep your day job.

And criminy was she right. That's why we brought aboard a local 'Scon, Kayley Hackett, to design our latest piece of Wiscampsin merch - the State Bird print!

Picture this hanging above your bed, your tool shelf, your toilet... anywhere really, it's that darn pretty.

For every purchase, 20% will be donated to The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology to promote the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds.

• 3 Options: 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and 11" x 14"

• 100lb. Matte Cardstock

• Ships in a Rigid Envelope

• Made in the USA

• Printed in Janesville, WI

• Artist: Kayley Hackett

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Well folks it was a three way tie between the birds migrating back (with a write in for the return of the Sand Hill Cranes!), the return of orange traffic cones, and tulips peaking through the snow for the first signs of Spring. Give this one a try:

NEW: Wisconsin Events

Butt glued to the couch? Here are some great Wisconsin events to get you out 'der:

WEEKEND WILD WALK at Devils Lake State Park - Baraboo, WI on Saturday, March 25, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

FROG HIKE at Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit - Eagle, WI on Saturday, March 25, 2023, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

HISTORY TOUR AT CAVE OF THE MOUNDS at Cave of the Mounds - Blue Mounds, WIMar 24, 2023. 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Know a WI Outdoors-related event happening? Reply to this email with the details and we will share the week before the event!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰

🐟 Sturgeon Guard returns: In the effort to fight against poachers and protect the "Dinosaur of the Midwest," the volunteer Sturgeon Guard will return to the Fox and Wolf River this spring during sturgeon spawning. After the DNR discontinued the program due to COVID, some residents of the Lake Winnebago system decided to take matters into their own hands. Vigilantes, unite!

🐸 Froggers needed: Ah, more vigilantes! Much like the Batman (or Uncle Joe on a Friday night), Froggers are 'Sconnies who like to stay up late. Why? They're surveying frogs, in fact listening for them, to help the DNR gauge populations in Wisconsin. Interested in helping out?

🦌 Elk hunting applications: We know we're far out from the fall hunting season, blaze orange, and shivering our a-- off in a tree, but the elk hunting application is now open till May 31 (great news for your freezer). Only costs $10 buc - erm, dollars, $7 of which goes directly back to elk conservation. Apply here. 

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the Trail... ;)