Area fishery and refuge program offices hosted more than 2,800 visitors at the Service display, during the 30th Annual La Crosse Boat, Travel, and Sport Show. - FWS photo

Staff from the La Crosse Fishery Resources Office, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (La Crosse and Winona Districts), Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH), and the La Crosse Fish Health Center hosted more than 2,800 visitors who toured the Service booth at the 30th Annual La Crosse Boat, Travel, and Sports Show, February 8-11. 

With additional exhibit space graciously provided to the Service from the adjoining National Weather Service booth and assistance from Friends of the Upper Mississippi Fishery Services, an inviting array of diverse educational brochures, posters, photographs, taxidermy mounts, live fish, and animal pelts were prominently displayed here near the main entrance to the exhibition hall.

Highlighted fishery resource topics at the Service booth this year included invasive Asian carps, freshwater mussels, migratory species, disease pathogens, and the list of public events to celebrate the Genoa NFH 75^th anniversary on August 8th. 

The opportunity to personally exchange this information with the large and diverse audience that attends this show makes Service participation here a valuable outreach tool for all La Crosse area offices.