Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

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Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Visit our official website: https://www.fws.gov/office/alpena-fish-and-wildlife-conservation

Cross programmatic learning and support are important for the continued growth of our staff. Recently, through the regio...
10/14/2026

Cross programmatic learning and support are important for the continued growth of our staff. Recently, through the regional mentoring program, a staff member visited her mentor at the Marquette Biological Station. Along with making connections, staff learned more about the Sea Lamprey Control program and even tried electrofishing for lamprey!

Photos by USFWS / S. Nowicki

Oh, the drama!This Eastern Hognose Snake definitely put on a show! When feeling threatened, hognose snakes can flatten t...
10/13/2026

Oh, the drama!

This Eastern Hognose Snake definitely put on a show! When feeling threatened, hognose snakes can flatten their necks, raise their heads, and hiss, giving them a pretty convincing cobra impression. They may even strike with their mouths closed to scare off a potential predator.

And if that doesn't work? Some hognose snakes take their acting skills a step further and play dead.

Despite their dramatic displays, hognose snakes are harmless to humans and play an important role in our ecosystems by helping control populations of prey like toads, frogs, and small mammals.

This snake was observed crossing the road by our Habitat Team in the Pigeon River Country Forest.

Photo by USFWS/M. Strasburg

Did you know water samples can help us detect new invasive species? Our crews often filter water samples in a variety of...
10/12/2026

Did you know water samples can help us detect new invasive species? Our crews often filter water samples in a variety of locations hoping to collect fish DNA. These samples are then sent to USFWS labs where they identify any fish DNA that was collected. If any unexpected fish are detected, our crews can return to these locations to conduct further sampling.

These photos were taken during water sample collection in Sandusky Bay near Cedar Point.

Photos by USFWS/J. Johnson

It's IdentiFriday! This one might be a little tricky, so we'll give you some hints. It was captured in a cold-water stre...
10/09/2026

It's IdentiFriday!

This one might be a little tricky, so we'll give you some hints. It was captured in a cold-water stream in Northern Michigan.

Photo by USFWS/M. Strasburg

Last week’s featured the Pimpleback! Pimplebacks (Cyclonaias pustulosa) get their name from the small, raised bumps, o...
10/08/2026

Last week’s featured the Pimpleback!

Pimplebacks (Cyclonaias pustulosa) get their name from the small, raised bumps, or “pimples,” covering their shell. They typically have a thick, rounded shell that ranges from yellowish-brown to dark brown, often with a greenish ray near the umbo, the raised part of the shell near the hinge.

Fun fact: Those bumps aren’t just for looks! The shell’s rough, knobby texture may help provide camouflage among the rocks and gravel where Pimplebacks are often found.

Photo by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

Who loves a good road trip?! 🚗Last month, our staff hit the road from Genoa National Fish Hatchery with some unlikely pa...
10/07/2026

Who loves a good road trip?! 🚗

Last month, our staff hit the road from Genoa National Fish Hatchery with some unlikely passengers: 1,500 fingerling Lake Sturgeon! 🐟

After spending about three months growing up at the hatchery, the little sturgeon were ready to leave the hatchery and head to their reintroduction locations. From hatchery tanks to the big water, it was quite the road trip for these tiny fish!

Did anyone see our trailer on the road?

Photos by USFWS

Every dragonfly starts its life where you might least expect it, underwater! Before it becomes the fast-flying dragonfly...
10/06/2026

Every dragonfly starts its life where you might least expect it, underwater! Before it becomes the fast-flying dragonfly we know, larvae can spend up to 6 years underwater. Hidden among aquatic plants and rocks, these larvae are fierce predators that feed on insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. They use a specialized extendable lower jaw to quickly sn**ch unsuspecting prey.

This dragonfly larva was collected from an inland lake during an outreach event this spring.

Photo by USFWS/Miranda Strasburg

Happy World Teachers' Day!Today, we're celebrating the teachers who help inspire the next generation of conservationists...
10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers' Day!

Today, we're celebrating the teachers who help inspire the next generation of conservationists! From learning about local wildlife to exploring how we can protect the habitats and natural resources around us, teachers play an important role in helping students understand the world they live in and why it's worth protecting.

This summer some of our staff had the privilege of helping with Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Summer Teacher Institute held in Alpena. The goal was to teach teachers about the foundational elements of place-based stewardship education and how they can implement projects in their classrooms. This year's institute was focused on fisheries science and watershed exploration, so we got the teachers out in local streams looking for fish and macroinvertebrates.

The institute was completed in partnership with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Michigan SeaGrant, Michigan State Extension, and the Center for Great Lakes Literacy.

Thank you to all the teachers who encourage curiosity, connect students with nature, and help foster a lifelong appreciation for our natural world!

The Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project has been a major undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without an incredible...
10/05/2026

The Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project has been a major undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without an incredible amount of teamwork. Throughout the project, volunteers from across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—including staff from the Green Bay, Alpena, and La Crosse FWCOs, Big Muddy and Detroit International Wildlife Refuges, Office of Conservation Investment, Michigan Ecological Services, and Regional Offices. We were also fortunate to have support from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Clinton River Watershed Council, Friends of the St. Clair River, and many others.

Together, we relocated thousands of mussels to safer habitat before construction begins, including several rare and listed species. Every mussel represents an important part of the Maple River ecosystem, and this collaborative effort will help give them a better chance to thrive as the river moves into its next chapter.

A project of this size takes a village, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who rolled up their sleeves, got wet and muddy, and helped make it happen. Thank you to everyone who was part of the team! And with that, we’re wrapping up our look behind the scenes at the Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project.

Photos by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

This crayfish wanted to stop by and say "Hi! It's World Animal Day!"What's your favorite animal? Do we have any crayfish...
10/04/2026

This crayfish wanted to stop by and say "Hi! It's World Animal Day!"

What's your favorite animal? Do we have any crayfish lovers out there?

Photo by USFWS/J. McKenna

Address

585 S. Ripley Boulevard
Alpena, MI
49707

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+19893565102

Website

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