Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Visit our official website: https://www.fws.gov/office/alpena-fish-and-wildlife-conservation
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Today we are flexing our mussels! Last summer, our staff discovered two federally endangered Northern Riffleshell mussel...
08/31/2026

Today we are flexing our mussels! Last summer, our staff discovered two federally endangered Northern Riffleshell mussels in the Black River near Port Huron, Michigan. This was the first time they had been found live in nearly 40 years. This June, we returned to the Black River to continue mussel surveys in hopes to find more Northern Riffleshell mussels. While we did not find any Northern Riffleshell mussels on that trip, we did find some state-endangered Slippershell mussels, which we tagged and released back into the stream.

These photos show our staff and partners collecting, identifying, measuring, and tagging the mussels. As a fun bonus, we also found an abundance of caddisfly larvae at the site, which is a great indicator of stream health.

It's National Beach Day! While we don't get to build sandcastles or swim, sometimes we do get to go to the beach for wor...
08/30/2026

It's National Beach Day!

While we don't get to build sandcastles or swim, sometimes we do get to go to the beach for work. Our Alpena Native Species crew heads to the beach each spring to seine for juvenile lake whitefish and cisco. As they pull the seine through the water, all the fish near shore become trapped in the net. Our staff sorts the samples, and small, larval fish are sent to the lab to confirm their identity using genetics.

These photos were taken in Port Austin. What's your favorite beach to visit?

Photos by USFWS

It's that time! IdentiFriday! Name this fish! It was captured in Beavertail Creek in the eastern UP earlier this month! ...
08/28/2026

It's that time! IdentiFriday!

Name this fish! It was captured in Beavertail Creek in the eastern UP earlier this month!

Photos by USFWS/Miranda Strasburg

It's World Lake Day!When we say Great Lakes, we really mean it. On a global scale, the lakes we work on are giants.Lake ...
08/27/2026

It's World Lake Day!

When we say Great Lakes, we really mean it. On a global scale, the lakes we work on are giants.

Lake Huron covers nearly 23,000 square miles and holds 850 cubic miles of water! By surface area, it's one of the largest lakes worldwide, ranking number five. Its shoreline, including many islands, stretches 3,800 miles, providing access for numerous urban and rural communities.

Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, but it is still a global goliath, holding nearly 116 cubic miles of water. Globally, it ranks number twelve by surface area, covering 9,900 square miles. Its shallow, productive waters support a tremendous freshwater fishery.

Together, the 5 Great Lakes contain about 20% of the world's available surface freshwater. While the Great Lakes seem limitless, their water is renewed very slowly. This is a resource we can't take for granted. And these aren't just big bodies of water, they are living ecosystems that not only support a vast array of fish and wildlife, but also our communities, recreation, economy, and people.

From our corner of the Great Lakes to lakes around the world, we're celebrating the waters that make our work so special.

These photos show just how beautiful the lakes we work on are!

Photos by USFWS/Jessica Kosiara

It's time for last week's IdentiFriday reveal! It was a Smallmouth Buffalo! Smallmouth Buffalo are large freshwater fish...
08/27/2026

It's time for last week's IdentiFriday reveal! It was a Smallmouth Buffalo!

Smallmouth Buffalo are large freshwater fish that can be found throughout much of the central and eastern United States. They get their name from their relatively small, downward-facing mouth, which they use to feed along the bottom of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Smallmouth Buffalo are not native to the Great Lakes basin, but they aren't considered invasive. While non-native, they don't have the detrimental impacts we often associate with invasive species. They are not known to cause the ecological harm or widespread disruption typically associated with invasive species.

What's the difference between a Smallmouth and a Bigmouth Buffalo? Well, as their names suggest, one of the easiest ways to tell them apart is by looking at their mouths! Smallmouth Buffalo have a smaller, more downward-facing mouth, while Bigmouth Buffalo have a much larger, more terminal mouth.



Photo by USFWS

Let’s dive into backpack electrofishing!! Backpack electrofishing is an active fish sampling technique our staff uses to...
08/26/2026

Let’s dive into backpack electrofishing!! Backpack electrofishing is an active fish sampling technique our staff uses to capture fish so we can estimate population size and evaluate fish health. The electrofishing unit, which we wear on our back, sends a controlled electrical current into the water. The electricity causes the fish's muscles to contract involuntarily, immobilizing them in the direction of the electric field. The fish can then be easily netted, identified, and measured. Once the fish is removed and placed in a bucket, it regains normal movement rapidly. This gives biologists an opportunity to collect important information about fish populations while minimizing harm to both the fish and their habitat.

These photos show our staff conducting backpack electrofishing for our brook trout monitoring program. The yellow rod coming off the backpack is the anode and the long black cord is the cathode. The water between them completes the circuit and is the zone in which fish become stunned. The nets have fiberglass handles, and we all wear lineman-style electrical gloves to prevent any risk of electrocution.

Photos by USFWS/Miranda Strasburg

At the beginning of August, our Alpena Office hosted a Motorboat Operator Certification Course. This course is required ...
08/25/2026

At the beginning of August, our Alpena Office hosted a Motorboat Operator Certification Course. This course is required for motorboat operators that work for the Department of Interior, but it is also useful for anyone who routinely operates a boat. The course instructors provide attendees with specific skills and knowledge that allow them to make an informed decision about their own safety, the safety of any crew member, and the safety of the vessel.

This year's class consisted of students from our tribal partners and other federal agencies. Everyone, regardless of their previous experience, learned something new from the course.

Photo by USFWS

Meet the Ebony Jewelwing! These striking damselflies are known for their metallic green bodies and dark, almost black wi...
08/24/2026

Meet the Ebony Jewelwing! These striking damselflies are known for their metallic green bodies and dark, almost black wings.

Ebony Jewelwings are commonly found near wooded streams, rivers, and other shady waterways, where they spend much of their time hunting small insects. They're especially fun to spot on warm summer days as they flutter from leaf to leaf along the water's edge.

Our staff saw this damselfly near a stream while doing backpack electrofishing surveys in northern Michigan.

Photo by USFWS/Dan Cunnane

Spotted at the National Conservation Training Center: an Eastern Box Turtle taking the scenic route… along the paved pat...
08/23/2026

Spotted at the National Conservation Training Center: an Eastern Box Turtle taking the scenic route… along the paved path.

No rush. No GPS. Just vibes.

These long-lived little reptiles are a great reminder that conservation sometimes means slowing down and taking a closer look at the wildlife right under our feet.



Photo by USFWS/Jessica Kosiara

It’s been a little while, but we’re bringing back a Friday favorite! IdentiFriday!!Anyone know what species this is? It ...
08/21/2026

It’s been a little while, but we’re bringing back a Friday favorite! IdentiFriday!!

Anyone know what species this is? It was caught in the western Lake Erie basin using boat electrofishing.

We’ll reveal the answer and share a few fun facts about this week’s fish next week!

Photo by USFWS

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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