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Madison flora and fauna slowly signal spring

Madison flora and fauna slowly signal spring

Although March 20 marked the arrival of the spring equinox, Madison is still shivering in cold temperatures. According to the National Weather Service Offices, the average temperature on March 20 was 15 degrees this year, while the same day last year reached 71 degrees.

"[We've] got snow covering the ground for a longer period than normal, and we still have it now," said Levi Wood, a naturalist at UW Arboretum, after guiding a public tour titled "End of Winter" in the Arboretum on March 24. That day turned out windy and snowy, with a high temperature of 31 degrees.

"This is becoming one of the longer lasting, snowier winters any of us can remember," wrote Wood in the trip's note on the Arboretum website.

In the freezing wintry air, a few species still surfaced to herald the spring in Madison, including the skunk cabbage, a plant distributed near the Wingra Woods in the Arboretum.

More snow for Southern Wis. through Tuesday night

Winter weather affects area with inches of accumulation  

For school, business and other closings in the community, visit the Channel3000.com snow coverage.

Closures are updated as we receive them:

Up-to-date winter storm closings

Up-to-date winter storm closings

Snow emergencies, school closures, weather pics and more    

Channel3000.com and News 3 have up-to-the-minute closures and weather advisory information for area communities.

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DNR announces first winter season free-fishing weekend

Residents, nonresidents invited to try winter-time fishing without a license    

The state Department of Natural Resources announced Wisconsin’s first winter free fishing weekend, which is scheduled to take place Jan. 19-20.

Bob Manwell, DNR spokesman in Fitchburg, said residents and nonresidents are invited to fish Wisconsin waters without first purchasing a license.

Wisconsin has had a similar free fishing weekend in June for many years but Manwell said the mid-January free fish event offers the chance to  try "hardwater" fishing.

Manwell also said loaner tackle is available at some sites.

DNR to conduct aerial survey of deer through February

DNR to conduct aerial survey of deer through February

Snow-covered ground helps biologists to tally in chronic wasting disease zones    

Helicopter teams will conduct aerial deer counts throughout Dane and Iowa counties and near Baraboo from Wednesday through mid-February, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

DNR biologists are conducting aerial deer counts in portions of the chronic wasting disease management zone.

Regional spokesman Bob Manwell in Fitchburg said in a news release Wednesday that completion of the deer count operation is dependent on the presence of several inches of snow, which helps deer stand out on the landscape from the air.

Areas in western Dane and eastern Iowa counties and in the Baraboo area by Devil’s Lake State Park are scheduled for survey flights, officials said.

The DNR said about 260 square mile sections will be surveyed.

Org: Lack of buses in snow emergencies unacceptable for Madison

Org: Lack of buses in snow emergencies unacceptable for Madison

Bus advocates group says Madison needs a snow emergency bus service

The Madison Area Bus Advocates, a non-profit group comprised of citizens who describe themselves as “pro-bus,” said Madison Metro’s service shutdown during a snowstorm Dec. 21 highlights the need for a busing plan in snow emergencies.

The president and vice president of the advocacy organization -- Susan De Vos and Michael Barrett -- shared their thoughts on the need for emergency service for bus patrons during Southern Wisconsin’s frequently travel-adverse winter weather.

De Vos and Barrett said Madison’s Metro Transit needs a skeletal snow emergency plan:

Our winters are harsh; we can have excessive snowfalls, and conditions are not always amenable to a "business as usual" format. So despite all our technology, there are simply times when we need a contingency plan, as during the recent blizzard of Thursday, Dec. 20.