Returning Sturgeon to Their Native Habitat
The most satisfying part about raising endangered fish is being able to put them back into their native habitat. This June, Neosho staff has been extremely busy travelling to and from stocking sites. Our juveniles from the 2007 year class were taken to Bellevue, NE, Sloan Landing, IA, and Mulberry Bend, NE. The fish from the 2008 year class were stocked at four sites in four different states: Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Nebraska. These pallids are just about to be released into the Missouri River at Sloan Landing, IA.
These two-year old and one-year old fish are the biggest pallids that we have ever raised from fry and stocked! These juveniles averaged 13.7 and 12 inches in length, respectively. Previously, we have stocked our pallids at 9 inches. We hope the 3,291 total pallids that were stocked are seen again in future mark-recapture studies.
These pallids are just about to be released into the Missouri River at Sloan Landing, IA.
At Bellevue, NE, the tanks are being tempered to ensure the fish adjust easily to the water temperature of the Missouri River.
These juveniles were loaded from our stocking trailer into a tank on a boat. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff from Lincoln, NE and Melissa Cheung from Neosho net the pallid juveniles out into their new home.
Tagging
Two of our partners from the Middle Basin Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Work Group visited our hatchery at the end of May to help us tag our two year classes of pallid sturgeon juveniles. Staff from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission out of Lincoln, NE and Missouri Department of Conservation staff from Chillicothe, MO helped the Neosho staff PIT tag, remove scutes, and record valuable tagging data. Rick Horton and Blake Stephens from the local Neosho Missouri Department of Conservation office also volunteered their time to assist. Their teamwork and efficient tagging greatly expedited our task of tagging over 3,100 fish. In fact, it is only because of their help that we completed all tagging in just two days!
Rick Horton records data into our tagging program.
Staff from Missouri Department of Conservation read PIT tags and record lengths and weights.
Just some of the fantastic crew from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Missouri Department of Conservation.
Pallid Sturgeon Fry
Our fry started hatching about a month ago. These fry pictured below are only 2 days old. Their bellies appear swollen because they are still absorbing their yolk sac.
These fry are about a month and a half old. They have begun foraging and have show clear signs of development. They are actively feeding on frozen brine shrimp which we grate into smaller pieces.
