Photo of a Center staff member at the event display. - Photo Credit: USFWS

Poster for the 12th Annual Dragonfly Festival - Photo Credit: USFWS

The Southwestern Native Aquatic Resource and Recovery Center (Center) staff participated in the 12th annual Dragonfly Festival held at the Bitter Lake National Wildlife refuge (NWR) in Roswell, NM on September 7, 2013. Over 300 visitors of all ages stopped by the exhibit that included a USFWS banner and living stream display allowing visitors to see three of the endangered species cared for at the Center: razorback sucker, Gila chub, and Colorado pikeminnow.

Center staff engaged visitors throughout the day by answering a wide range of questions and providing informational hand-outs about the Center and its mission to protect important aquatic resources. Many of the attendees were children who were excited to receive a squeezable bonytail or humpback chub souvenir along with key chains, rulers, fish coloring books with crayons, and informational brochures.

Despite the enthusiasm of the staff and the souvenirs, the star of the event was the Gila chub.  Gila Chub are an endangered species native to the Gila River Basin. Visitors were especially delighted by the curiosity of the Gila chub that would come right up to the tank glass and face off with them as they peered into the aquarium. Overall, it was a very successful activity and fun for both the visitors and the staff.

Submitted by SNARRC staff