Columbia FRO biological science technician Brian Elkington helped track paddlefish on the Osage River this month. 

Josh Lallaman, a graduate student from the University of Missouri, surgically implanted telemetry tags in 18 paddlefish from the Osage River this spring. 

These paddlefish are now being tracked from Bagnell Dam to the Osage/Missouri river confluence, more than 80 river miles. 

Paddlefish are tracked from a boat outfitted with an underwater sensor and radio antenna.  Motoring or floating slowly down river, the sensor receives a unique signal from each nearby paddlefish tag and creates a beeping sound. 

Loud beeps indicated a stronger signal and therefore a close proximity to the fish.  Locations were noted for each paddlefish tag as we traveled down river.  This data may help describe habitat preferences and possible behaviors of paddlefish in the wild.