Muskego Police Warn Mild Temps Make Lousy Ice

Lt. Dave Constantineau echoed the concerns of many, including Conservation Coordinator Tom Zagar and seasoned anglers who take to the frozen lakes to set up shanties and ice fish, that our lakes' surfaces can be deceivig.

Constantineau went so far as to voice his hope that all the ice on the lakes be gone, "and I really hope that is the case, because that will make it obvious to people that they cannot go out there."

"The problem is when the temperature fluctuates, and leaves the appearance that the ice is solid, when in fact it is weak, or thin, or fractured. With the temperatures we have had lately, no ice is safe," he explained. The constant freeze-thaw cycle that has punctuated this winter means that ice becomes pocketed with air, making it more brittle.

A peek at Little Muskego Lake shows far fewer shanties than normal, but it's advised to get them off before Monday's temperatures take us back to near 50. (All shanties must be removed by March 1.) For those who can't stay away, officials advise the buddy system, a cell phone in a zippered bag to keep it from getting wet, and common sense. If the ice doesn't appear safe, or seems 'dark', it's better to stay away.

"It may look safe from above, but it only takes a second, and the next thing you know, you are looking at the ice from below. And if you thought it looked solid from on top, I’m told it looks like it’s a mile thick when you are under it," Constantineau added. "From a selfish point of view, I don’t want someone else’s poor decision to put our officers and firefighters at risk by having to try and save them."