warm temperatures and low snowfall have far-reaching impacts on New Hampshire

During a typical, mid-January weekend, the surface of Lake Winnipesauke becomes a thriving winter community. Ice skaters drift between thousands of ice fishing huts while cross country skiers and snowmobiles hum through surrounding woods.

Elsewhere, children play pond hockey or rocket down their favorite sledding hills.

But without snow and ice, these winter pursuits aren’t much fun. And although temperatures began to dip last week, an unusually warm start to the winter has thwarted recreational activities, stifled local businesses and put wildlife at risk.

“Everything’s pretty much tied together, and it’s certainly out of whack right now,” said Don Miller, a biologist with the N.H. Fish and Game Department.

Miller, who specializes in large lake fisheries, said the state’s water bodies have barely been glazed with ice cover.

“All our big lakes are wide open, no ice at all on them,” he said. “Small ponds have very, very unsafe ice. Some of them have maybe an inch or two of ice and that’s all.”

The open water prompted the Fish and Game Department to remind anglers that fishing in lake trout and salmon lakes is prohibited from Jan. 1 to March 31 unless the lake is frozen.

“It can be confusing for people, because it’s so unusual for us to have open water on these lakes this time of year,” said Lt. Bruce Bonenfant, of Fish and Game’s Law Enforcement Division. “But the regulations clearly state that only ice-fishing is allowed on lake trout and salmon lakes during this time period.”  

The restriction applies mainly to the state’s larger lakes, and fishing for perch, sunfish, black crappies, pickerel, trout and other species is still permitted on many ponds and smaller lakes, Miller said. It will just require a canoe instead of a bobhouse.

Fish and Game officials worry the onset of cold weather will cause anglers to make rash decisions as lakes begin to freeze. There are no laws regulating when ice is safe to traverse, but safety is always a concern.

“We always stress the need for safety,” Miller said. “People are chomping at the bit to do some ice fishing.”

Another concern is how the lack of ice fishing activity will impact fish populations. For example, if lake trout populations are not kept in check, they can deplete smelt populations, igniting a domino effect down the food chain.

“We worry a little bit because if these fish aren’t harvested, their populations can get out of whack,” Miller said. “That can upset the whole ecosystem.”

Furthermore, a season of light snowfall could have an adverse impact on water levels in the spring, as bodies of water rely on runoff from melting snow to replenish. The absence of snow could also have dire implications for small mammals such as field mice and moles that depend on thick snow cover for protection from predators.

“Anything that is normally found beneath the snow is probably more susceptible to weather conditions, as well as predation,” said professor Peter Pekins, of the Department of Natural Resources at the University of New Hampshire. “Small mammals are born to be eaten by something, but the irony is that in winter they’re reasonably safe under the snow cover.”

The warmth could also cause problems for predators specifically adapted to hunt for prey beneath the snow. Some animals turn white in the winter to blend in with the snow, either for hunting purposes or self defense.

“If you turn white, the gig’s up,” Pekins said. “An ermine or a short-tailed weasel that turns white to take advantage of the snow cover all of a sudden is much more obvious.”

The same is true of the snowshoe hare, whose white color will make it more vulnerable than usual to predators. On the other hand, certain bird species could thrive this winter because of an abundance of insect prey deeper into the season. And the absence of ice on freshwater lakes and ponds means birds like swans and geese are not forced to migrate elsewhere.

“Certainly some of the waterfowl are more spread (out). They haven’t been forced to migrate to the coastline,” Pekins said.

The consequences of unseasonable warmth could be far-reaching, with some populations expanding and others dwindling.

“Virtually all these species have evolved to deal with winter, and although some may survive, that isn’t necessarily good for the population,” Pekins said. “Maybe weaker individuals that normally would be eliminated survive and those genes become more prevalent.”

Ben Kilham, of Lyme, tracks bear populations in northern New Hampshire. He said warmth and low snowfall could cause black bears to skip hibernation and continue prowling the woods throughout the winter. Male black bears were still active in mid-January, he said.

Female bears typically go to den early, regardless of weather conditions, so they can care for their offspring in a safe environment. Kilham tracks a number of female bears with radio collars, and all of them had gone to den by the first week of December.

But male bears do not settle into hibernation until all available food sources have been exhausted or snow levels make travel difficult. Last winter, Kilham received reports of bear sightings and toppled birdfeeders throughout the season.

“I was getting regular phone calls all but three weeks of last year,” he said. “It completely depends on the availability of food … I would expect males are still out running around.”

Male bears might enjoy their extended foraging this winter, but local businesses that rely on heavy snowfall are suffering. In the northern part of the state, the lack of snow affects not only ski mountains, but the hotels, restaurants and other businesses that rely on a seasonal flood of vacationers.

Barren conditions in the north spurred the Department of Resources and Economic Development to ask Governor John Lynch to declare an emergency and request federal disaster aid.

Aside from a handful of employees, Putnam’s Ski and Snowboard on Lafayette Road in Portsmouth was deserted on Jan. 9.
“Take a look around,” said manager Scott Chapman, indicating the empty store that usually bustles with activity in early winter. Putnam’s has been forced to cut back on seasonal employees and even let go of year-round workers because of low customer turnout.

The lack of snowfall has been disastrous for ski mountains in New England, and the impact trickles down to local stores that sell ski and snowboard equipment. To compound matters, temperatures have generally been too warm for snowmaking.

“Since we’re primarily a snow store, it hurts,” said Chapman. In his 15 years at Putnam’s, he cannot remember another winter kicking off with such warm weather. It has forced the store to cut back on inventory and hold off on reordering items, which could prove troublesome if a blizzard suddenly hits.

Down the road at the Honda Depot, rows of Kawasaki motorcycles, Arctic Cat four-wheelers and other bikes and ATVs fill the store. There are only a handful of snowmobiles on display at the front of the business, and employees said snowmobile sales have been dismal.

“Basically it’s like a dead sport up here, and last year was the same thing,” said head mechanic Jay Tulley.

Luckily for the Honda Depot, the absence of snow has meant a surge in winter motorcycle sales. ATV sales have also gone up, as four-wheelers can be operated virtually year-round.

But business owners who rely entirely on traditional New Hampshire winters are hoping a spate of snowstorms will pummel the Northeast. Without money from tourists pouring into the local economy, the domino effect could be felt by all of us.

“When people don’t come here to appreciate our wildlife and our forestry sources, our whole state suffers. We’re a year-round destination,” Pekins said. “It’s incredible how people are being hurt by this.”

Alas, there is still hope. Temperatures took a nose dive on Jan. 10, and heavy snowfall could blanket the region at any moment. Some residents might actually be glad to shovel out their cars this year.

“The cool thing is you can’t predict the weather,” Pekins said.