If you plan on hitting the water this Fourth of July weekend, make sure you do so safely. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says there have been three boating fatalities in Wisconsin so far in 2025, after seeing 14 deaths in 2024. Most of the tragedies involved people not wearing a life jacket. United States Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate (BM) Kylee Barnett says making sure you have plenty of life jackets on board should be a part of your checklist before undocking your boat.

The DNR also encourages you to enjoy the water sober and be aware of unseen dangers near river shorelines and sandbars. Barnett adds they have noticed an increase in boating traffic in recent weeks, but it has not created additional issues.