Heidi Keuler hands off a largemouth bass to a group of 5th graders at the Annual River Education Days on the Trempealeau Refuge May 8-9, 2007. - FWS photo by Jennifer Lilla

Hands-on fish identification at R.E.D. Trempealeau Refuge May 8-9. - FWS photo by Jennifer Lilla

On May 8-9, approximately 600 fifth grade students from nine Wisconsin counties and four Minnesota counties participated in the 4th Annual River Education Days at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.

Approximately five federal and state agencies as well as several private individuals took part in this amazing oportunity to get children back outside.  The four event themes included Wetlands, Wildlife, Habitats, and River History. Topics from 18 stations included duck identification, forestry, archeology, Native American history, geology, aquatic creatures, birds of prey, invasive species, fish and invertebrates, and many others. La Crosse FRO fishery biologist, Heidi Keuler presented the topic, “How about a Shocking Experience?” Students learned about the career of fishery biologists and how biologists sample fish using the electrofishing technique.

Not only did students see the equipment, but they also viewed a live demonstration of a backpack electrofisher along the shoreline of the refuge. The fifth graders had lots of fun identifying several species of flopping fish sampled near the shoreline.