(AREA) — With warm and rainy weather patterns seen in recent weeks in many parts of the state, the Michigan DNR urges ice anglers and snowmobilers to remember that no ice is safe ice. Temperatures that reached into the 40’s in some areas caused thawing that weakens the ice. The DNR does not recommend the standard “inch-thickness” guide used by many anglers and snowmobilers to determine ice safety, because ice seldom forms at a uniform rate. When venturing onto ice, remember, clear ice that has a bluish tint is the strongest. Ice formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky, and is very porous and weak, and ice covered by snow always should be presumed unsafe. Snow acts like an insulating blanket and slows the freezing process and if there is slush on the ice, stay off. Slush ice is only about half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom. Also, those venturing out onto ice are urged to wear a life jacket, bright colored clothing, bring a cell phone, and pack a set of ice picks or ice claws.
PICTURED: Michigan conservation officers train to perform ice rescue. They learn the proper way to communicate instructions to the victim and how to utilize a rescue board, which disperses the victim’s weight across the ice to help prevent further breakage. Here, recruits of a past conservation officer training academy practice these valuable skills.
