1. The Illinois Lake Management Association 40th annual conference will be held March 17–19th, 2025, at the Hilton Northbrook/Chicago. Registration information can be found at: https://www.ilma-lakes.org/conference-registration
2. IDNR, IDPH, and IDOA monitoring avian influenza mortality events in waterfowl throughout Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is monitoring a large event of waterfowl mortality at numerous locations throughout Illinois. Test results received so far indicate highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is the cause.
The public is reminded not to handle or attempt to capture waterfowl or other wild birds displaying signs of illness. Members of the public are encouraged to report concentrations of five or more deceased birds found at one location to IDNR district wildlife biologists. https://wildlifeillinois.org/idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/ Due to risk of infection to other animals, dogs and other pets should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from HPAI. If carcasses need to be disposed of, IDNR recommends following guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDNR is unable to assist with carcass removal from non-IDNR properties in most situations.
The Department reminds waterfowl hunters to take precautions and thoroughly cook game meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid handling sick or dead waterfowl found in the field. Further guidance for hunters can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf In addition to detections in wild birds, Illinois and other states across the United States have seen detections in poultry. The Illinois Department of Agriculture encourages poultry owners to report unusually large mortalities in their flocks and to be aware of IDPH’s recommendations regarding exposure to sick birds”. People are also encouraged to wear gloves when working with outdoor bird feeders.
For more information: Contact the McHenry County Department of Health at (815) 334-4500 or visit http://www.mcdh.info/ https://ourcommunitynow.com/P/avian-flu-likely-culprit-in-death-of-doze…
3. With our on-again, off-again winter, questions arise as to whether the Wonder Lake ice is “safe”. Unfortunately, some of these questions are being asked on Facebook, which can result in a wide variety of opinions, many of which are not necessarily accurate.
The simple answer is to assume that ice is NEVER 100% SAFE, and that appropriate actions are taken when choosing to venture out on the ice. Temperature, snow cover, currents, springs and rough fish all affect the relative safety of ice. Ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water; it can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away. Wonder Lake has numerous springs under the lake, that can cause an upwelling of warmer groundwater. Nippersink Creek, which flows through the lake, provides a steady current under the ice. Even with the ongoing moderate drought, Nippersink Creek currently contributes over 16.1 million gallons of streamflow to the lake every day.
This is not to suggest that lake ice should be avoided at all times, just that appropriate caution should always be taken. The first question you should ask yourself at the beginning or the end of the season is this: Has it been cold enough outside for a long enough period of time to create or maintain safe ice? If the answer’s no, it’s not time to go ice fishing. When you do visit a frozen waterbody, conduct a visual inspection before heading out. Look for cracks on the surface, which can be a sign of instability.
It’s also very important to consider the color of the ice. Clear blue ice is the strongest and safest. It forms when the temperature has been at least 18ºF or colder for three consecutive weeks. The colder it gets; the faster blue ice will form.
White opaque ice is half as strong as blue ice. It’s formed by wet snow freezing on top of already existing ice. Often referred to as snow ice, it’s most dangerous when it forms on top of ice that hasn’t completely frozen. When that happens, the ice below takes longer to freeze and turn into blue ice. During early-winter and spring snowstorms, opaque ice is notorious for covering up dangerous thin ice, catching ice anglers off guard. Use extreme caution when heading onto snow-covered ice and check the thickness often with your ice auger.
Dull grey ice is the least safe. Why? Because it’s rotting. The grey coloration indicates the presence of water, meaning the ice will not support much weight, if any. Grey ice is most common during the spring melt, although it can be found all winter long near moving water, such as where creeks and rivers enter or leave a waterbody. These same areas also often have underwater currents that can make ice unstable, so avoid them. And remember, no fish is worth the risk of falling through.
The safest way to determine if the ice is safe is by using an ice chisel or an auger to drill test holes at various points. Measure the ice thickness, and if it falls within the recommended range, it is generally considered safe for the intended activity. Those with long-term knowledge of ice formation on the lake, such as many WL Sportsman’s Club members and long-term residents, can also be consulted. As an example, the Sportsman’s Club requires eight (8) inches of ice be present for their annual ice fishing derby to take place, given the number of people, ice fishing shanties and ATV’s that will potentially be on the ice.