An early ice-out on lakes across the state is prompting a warning from the Hennepin County Sheriff's office for boaters.
The county water patrol officially declared Lake Minnetonka open for boaters last Friday, nearly 10-days earlier than normal.
Hennepin County Lieutenant Rick Rehman says people should be on the lookout for submerged hazards, and near freezing water temperatures.
"We just want everyone to know that this water is still very cold and hypothermia sets in very quick," Lt. Rehman explains. "So we want to be prepared for this boating season and not just having a plan, but you've got to let either family or friends know what that plan is in case something happens."
He says as the weather continues to warm up in the coming weeks, there will be extra patrols to keep people safe out on the water.
Rehman says the excitement of an early season often leads to overlooked safety hazards. In recent checks, deputies have found animal nests in engine compartments and missing life jackets.
"So we want to make sure everyone puts all that safety equipment back into their boat in case something does happen and they need it," Rehman adds. "These boats, a lot of them are stored outside and animals and critters get into these boats and into these trailers. And they kind of cause a mess."
While only a handful of "die-hard" fishermen have braved the near-freezing temperatures so far, the Sheriff's Office expects a surge in traffic as soon as the sun breaks through later this week.
