Sturgeon during a spawn (File Photo)
SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A popular pastime may be still months off, but volunteers are needed for the upcoming sturgeon spawning season.
Since reforming two years ago, expect to once again see people in bright fluorescent vests along the Wolf River shoreline at places like Bamboo Bend in Shiocton. Citizen Sturgeon Guard coordinator Don Mielke says he is looking to fill a list with at least 100 volunteers.
“We are taking the responsibility of crowd control, as well as the situation of informing people and the situation of making sure they don’t touch the sturgeon, they don’t harass the sturgeon, they don’t get too close to the sturgeon and don’t get too close to the rocks either,” said Don Mielke, citizen sturgeon guard coordinator.
Mielke says volunteers will cover about nine or ten different locations. The season could last days, weeks or more.
“There is the moment where the sturgeon guard definitely helps us protect the fish,” said Margaret Stadig, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources sturgeon biologist.
Stadig says spawning activity may make the prehistoric fish vulnerable to people nearby.
“We do have some smaller sites that aren’t frequented as much by the public, and sturgeon guard are allowed to be out there. They’re out there and those are the sites that we do enjoy having them, because they’re able to just watch the sturgeon. Make sure no one’s up there to do any nefarious actions,” she said.
“We have 125 miles to manage and we do our part. And the best part about doing our part is leaving the DNR wardens to do their part. We have a gold mine out here, as far as a resource. We are so lucky. And I just want to continue that for people, that’s all. That’s all that we want to do,” said Mielke.
If you want to volunteer as a sturgeon guard, click here for more information.
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