GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It’s a chance to experience the outdoors at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay.
Winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing events are scheduled through the middle of March.
On a remote section of refuge trail, sanctuary staff were on a winter hike. It was supposed to be a trek on snowshoes.
“We were thinking that by January, we would have great snow conditions to be able to do that, however we do not have the correct snow conditions right now to be able to snowshoe,” said Kim Diedrich, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary chief naturalist.
Typically, about six inches of snow are needed to snowshoe, but Diedrich says Tuesday’s weather would do.
“Hiking right now is okay. Conditions are a little icy, and crusty in spots. But winter is a good time to get out and walk in the woods or walk on a trail.”
The hike wound through an area typically closed to the public, and along the way, there were some signs of nature.
“We can get outside, and look at some birds, and obviously you’ll see a lot of ducks and geese while you’re here, but some other different birds. There’s some other animals. The squirrels are active. All the wildlife is still moving around, and doing all the things they need to do. So we look for that kind of stuff as well,” said Jody Sperduto, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Naturalist.
Sperduto says whether it’s trekking on snowshoes, or using a good pair of boots, the hike was just one way to cure some of winter’s blues.
“We still really wanted to give people a chance to get outside, get some exercise, get some steps in, get some movement. Everybody’s been cooped up,” she said.
Park officials say weather may impact winter events, and they ask people to call the sanctuary at (920) 391-3671 for the latest conditions.
