Learning from Fisheries Biologists

Riveredge School students had a unique opportunity this week to witness and learn about an effort at Riveredge Nature Center to restore a population of Lake Sturgeon which are imprinted and spawn in the Milwaukee River.

On Monday, Wisconsin DNR Fisheries’ biologist, who lead up the sturgeon restoration project, were on site to tag, weigh, measure, and record each of the 1,100 young sturgeon which will be released at Sturgeon Fest in Milwaukee on Saturday, September 28. The 2nd – 4th grade students were able to observe the scientists in action. The students were fascinated by the process and asked really thoughtful questions to the DNR staff members.

All the students (K-4) had the chance to visit the sturgeon in the sturgeon trailer and learn about these prehistoric fish! They also learned about the trailer itself and why expanding this threatened species habitat is good for the ecosystem.

Many students are planning to come down to Sturgeon Fest to release a fish themselves! You can learn more about the sturgeon project in a recent blog post on A Wealth of Nature.

The students are looking forward to next spring when a new batch of eggs from Sturgeon spawning in the Wolf River will be brought to Riveredge Nature Center for the 16th year of this restoration project. At that time, they’ll be able to watch the eggs hatch, learn all about survival rates, and the development of these incredible fish!

(photo by Eddee Daniel)