AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - A cold snap followed by warming temperatures in Maine has left many lakes and ponds in the state with dangerously thin levels of ice, the Maine Warden Service has warned.
The service is urging residents to exercise caution before venturing out on any ice-covered Maine waterways. Ice conditions vary widely around the state, and that means residents must check the thickness of ice before going onto it for activities such as ice fishing.
The service recommends ice fishermen and others check the ice in different places using an auger or another means of making a “test hole” that gauges thickness. It’s a good idea to make several such holes, the state said.
People venturing onto the ice should also bring a partner, avoid areas with currents, look for honeycombed ice and take other safety precautions, the state said.
“Parents should alert children of unsafe ice in their area, and make sure that they stay off the ice. If they insist on using their new skates, suggest an indoor skating rink,” the warden service said in a statement.
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