Keep safety in mind



Share or view as webpage [ [link removed] ]? |? Update preferences [ [link removed] ]


DNR banner with link to website [ [link removed] ]
"DNR News"



Jan. 12, 2024

Contact: Cpl. Mike Hearn <[email protected]> or John Pepin <[email protected]>, 906-226-1352

DNR urges snowmobile, ice safety amid winter storm this holiday weekend

An ice angler pulls an auger back through the ice after drilling a hole for fishing.

It?s finally time to tune up the snowmobiles and break out the hand warmers, as Michigan is bracing for the impact of one of the largest winter storm systems of the so-far mild season.

Heavy snow, blizzard conditions and low visibility are expected to hinder travel to varying degrees across the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources urges all outdoor enthusiasts to use caution, especially when snowmobiling or venturing onto the ice.

?Unfortunately, with the unseasonable winter we?ve experienced this season, there are still marginal ice conditions throughout the state,? said Lt. Tom Wanless, DNR recreational safety, education and enforcement supervisor. ?Accumulating snowfall often creates blankets of snow on top of bodies of water that are still freezing, which creates deceiving perceptions that the water is solid and safe to venture onto.?

If you plan to be on or near ice, the DNR reminds you to wear a life jacket and carry icepicks in an easy-to-reach spot, such as clipped onto your chest. You can test ice thickness and quality using a spud, needle bar or auger. If there?s ice on the lake but water around the shoreline, be extra cautious for potentially hazardous conditions.

The DNR?s Ride Right snowmobile safety campaign [ [link removed] ] urges snowmobilers to ride sober, at a safe speed and on the right side of the trail or roadway. Group leaders should also ?lead right [ [link removed] ]? by riding at a comfortable pace that their most novice rider can safely maintain, stopping regularly to check on the group, using an experienced snowmobiler to ride last in the group and limiting the overall number of riders in the group. ?



Snowmobilers enjoy a trip riding right on a winter morning in Gogebic County.

?All snowmobilers should slow down when taking corners and make a complete stop at all intersections,? said Cpl. Mike Hearn, DNR snowmobile and off-road vehicle specialist. ?This is often when collisions happen, because people take a turn too fast or tight and collide with another snowmobiler or object or leave the path. Just slow down.?

The DNR encourages all individuals to complete an approved snowmobile safety course [ [link removed] ]. If you are interested in becoming a snowmobile safety instructor, learn more on the DNR website [ [link removed] ].

So far this winter, one snowmobile fatality [ [link removed] ] has been reported.

Conservation officers throughout the state will be conducting advanced patrols over the holiday weekend to help ensure people are enjoying outdoor activities safely.

Additional winter recreation safety tips [ [link removed] ] are available on the DNR?s website.

Visit Michigan.gov/Snowmobiling [ [link removed] ] to buy a trail permit or find places to snowmobile.



________________________________________________________________________



*Note to editors:* Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

*Ice fishing [ [link removed] ]*: An angler pulls an auger back through the ice after drilling a hole for fishing, releasing a gush of water.

*Snowmobiling [ [link removed] ]*: Snowmobilers enjoy a morning riding right on a trail in Gogebic County.


twitter icon circle [ [link removed] ]facebook icon circle [ [link removed] ]YouTube icon circle [ [link removed] ]instagram icon [ [link removed] ]pinterest icon circle [ [link removed] ]email icon circle [ [link removed] ]




If you wish to no longer receive emails from the DNR,
please update your preferences here:
Manage Preferences [ [link removed]? ]??|??Delete Profile [ [link removed] ]? |??Help [ [link removed] ]

Need further assistance?
Contact Us [ [link removed] ]??|??Provide Feedback <[email protected]>

Visit us on our website: Michigan.gov/DNR [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at?Michigan.gov/Vote [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Natural Resources ? Constitution Hall, 525 W. Allegan St., PO Box 30028 Lansing MI 48909 ? 1-800-439-1420