Sturgeon pile up near the shoreline during the annual sturgeon spawning run on the Wolf River's Bamboo Bend in Shiocton. (PHOTO: Casey Nelson, WTAQ News)
SHIOCTON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The call to help is underway ahead of the upcoming sturgeon spawning season.
“I’m getting phone calls. I’m getting emails. Don’t forget us this spring, and things like this that people are so looking forward to doing their thing to doing their part in helping us,” said Don Mielke, Citizen Sturgeon Guard Head Coordinator.
Inside the Shadows on the Wolf Clubhouse in Shiocton, the Sturgeon Guard is getting ready.
“Monday we got our kick off with the DNR, and the sturgeon biologist. That’s where we gain our information as far as the hot spots that they want us to watch,” said Mielke.
Citizen Sturgeon Guard Head Coordinator Don Mielke says volunteers will be at familiar places like Bamboo Bend on the Wolf River, but that’s not all.
“The guard has a new face. We don’t necessarily hide in the bushes like some of them did years ago, because that’s the DNR’s job okay? But the fact that we’re out more in the open, allows them to do that. And they’re getting back where they normally don’t have time to go,” he said.
During the spawning run, experts say sturgeon may be vulnerable to poaching and other disturbances.
“It’s real good for the resource,” said Jay Nelson, Shadows on the Wolf Board Member.
Shadows on the Wolf Board Member Jay Nelson says keeping the prehistoric fish healthy is vital to the upcoming spawning run.
“People love to see them. That’s a big thing is people just come here just to see them. I got friends that live in Ladysmith, and they come down, just to see them,” he said.
Experts say sturgeon need water temperatures to be about 53 degrees before spawning activity typically begins. On Friday morning, Don Mielke says there’s still some time on parts of the Wolf River.
“We got some more water than last year, and I think we’re going to get more water with all this snow melting. This snow is going to be postponing the spawn somewhat because of all the snow melting and the cold water going into the river systems, but it’s still going to come,” he said.
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