Neosho National Fish Hatchery

10/14/2026

The women's fishing derby is this Saturday! We are not doing a pre-registration this year. Just show up to the hatchery early. The registration starts at 8:00 am and fishing will start at nine. Remember to not bring any of your own equipment. We supply everything. Just bring a cooler to put your fish in, a camp or lawn chair, and dress for the weather.

10/10/2026

Catalpa moth caterpillars, also called catalpa worms, are the larval stage of the catalpa sphinx moth (Ceratomia catalpae), a native sphinx moth species found in the eastern United States. We found some at the hatchery and brought them in to observe. But... little did we know that one was infected! Endoparasitoid wasps (family Braconidae) attack catalpa worms.

The adult wasp locates a living caterpillar, often on the underside of catalpa leaves. It injects eggs into the caterpillar’s body through the skin. The wasp larvae develop inside the caterpillar, feeding on its tissues. As the larvae mature, they chew through the caterpillar’s skin and spin small white cocoons (about the size of grains of rice) on its back. Eww! just in time for spooky season.

10/10/2026

One week from today! Registration opens at 8:00 am. Please don't bring any fishing gear to help prevent contamination. Bring a cooler to put your catch in, a lawn chair, and dress for the weather.

10/10/2026

National Wildlife Refuge Week, observed the second full week of October each year, celebrates the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americans’ precious wildlife heritage. This year, National Wildlife Refuge Week takes place October 10th through 17th.

We know you’re familiar with Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and all the incredible things you can see and do here, but did you know that the refuge system includes over 570 national wildlife refuges representing all 50 states and five territories? As we celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week this year, we’d like to highlight some of the other National Wildlife Refuges in the region. Stay tuned over the next week to learn more about your public lands that are just a day or weekend trip away! At refuges that charge an entrance fee, those fees will be waived on Sunday, October 11th!

Learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System here: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system.

Photo credit and description: Sunrise over a marsh at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge by T. Everhardt / USFWS

10/10/2026

Grab a spiced drink or warm tea, sit back, and enjoy the seasonal show in the garden. Nature will thank you.

10/10/2026

Whoot! Yeah US!

100 Things You Didn't Know About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!

#1 of 100: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service traces it origins back to February 9, 1871 with the establishment of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries--later renamed the Bureau of Fisheries. This predecessor bureau provided the "Fish" in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service name.

An ongoing history series on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of our nation's 250th anniversary.

10/09/2026

With all the festivals we have attended these last few weekends, we are happy to announce that the visitor center and grounds WILL be open both Saturday and Sunday. However, in observance of the Federal Holiday, we will be closed on Monday. We will reopen Tuesday at 8:00 am.

10/09/2026

no comment.

10/09/2026

That pile of fallen leaves in your yard may seem like a chore, but it’s a cozy home for countless creatures preparing for winter! 🦋

Butterflies, moths, bumblebee queens, beetles, spiders, and more find shelter there, contributing to your garden's health in spring. If you clear it all away, you're tossing out a thriving ecosystem!

Instead, rake leaves into garden beds and around tree bases, leaving some undisturbed for wildlife. Let nature thrive this winter! 🌱🍂