Wolf River (Fox River) - The Sturgeon Guard

The Sturgeon Guard

This river is noted for the sturgeon which spawn in the Wolf River and its parent, the Fox River, in the springtime of the year, between approximately April 15 and May 5, as they swim upstream from Lake Winnebago. It is estimated that the extent of the lake sturgeon has dropped to about one-tenth of its population in the state since year 1800. Still, this species, which has existed since the time of the dinosaurs (100 million years ago), has a viable naturally-reproducing population, which are highly prized for the taste of their flesh, and also for their eggs, which are said to rival those of the beluga sturgeon of Russia and Ukraine, in quality and price. Female sturgeon deposit their eggs only about every four to six years, starting at 20 years old, up to their life span of 50 years. At this age, the sturgeon are five feet long. The fish then spawn in the shallows of the Wolf river, as they swim upstream.

In order to protect the spawning locations of the sturgeon from poaching, when they are the most vulnerable, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources formed a citizen sturgeon guard called Sturgeon For Tomorrow in the early 1990s, who volunteer to watch over the spawning sites during the spawning season. The head guard, or "sturgeon general" assigns the site, an identifying hat (and souvenir), and cell phone for the 12-hour shift. The guards are warned not to confront poachers, but to call in the incident to the armed wardens.

The program is very popular in the state and weekend volunteer slots are filled quickly.