Sturgeon Guarding Program
Volunteers Sought For
Annual Sturgeon Guarding Program
Cheboygan - Each Spring, hundreds of volunteers guard sturgeon at their spawning sites on the Black River to protect the fish from poaching. This rich tradition in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement staff and the public is directed and funded by Sturgeon For Tomorrow, a local sturgeon conservation organization.
When sturgeon spawn along the rocky shorelines of Cheboygan County’s Black River they pay little attention to people and are very susceptible to illegal harvest. To protect them, "Sturgeon Guard" volunteers maintain a presence at the spawning sites throughout the spawning season, which usually begins in late April and lasts through the month of May.
When spawning begins, sturgeon guards are assigned to sites along the river in shifts. Prior to assignment, guards register with Sturgeon Guard Coordinator then check in at "Base Camp" on the river, where they are issued an identification hat (that they keep), a rules of engagement binder, and directed to their site. Groups are welcome, and camping is encouraged.
Fisheries researchers from the Michigan DNR, Michigan State University and other collaborators are also on the river collecting biological data on the adults to better understand reproductive ecology and early life history of lake sturgeon.
If you would like to help to save the sturgeon, please contact Sturgeon Guard Coordinator, Ann Feldhauser at 906-201-2484 or register online at www.sturgeonfortomorrow.org/guarding-program
While it is impossible to predict the exact dates that spawning will occur each year, guards are routinely scheduled somewhere within a window from April 25 through May 30. Several spawning events generally occur for five to seven day periods. Schedulers do their best to get all scheduled guards out on the riverbank to see this majestic fish.
Contact:
Ann Feldhauser 906-201-2484
Brenda Archambo 231-625-2776
Protecting Our Sturgeon
Each spring, sturgeon head up the rivers to spawn at known spawning sites. At this time a large percentage of the adult sturgeon in the system are concentrated in a small area. When the sturgeon are spawning along the rocky riverbanks they are fairly oblivious to nearby human activity and are susceptible to illegal harvest. Accordingly, conservation officers, volunteer off duty national guardsmen and other volunteer groups are also concentrated in these areas 24 hours a day.
We devote much time and effort to sturgeon protection due to poaching. If this were left unchecked, it would reduce the sturgeon population and destroy the sport fishery.
While we do our best to get all volunteers out on the riverbank to see fish, invariably we must cancel some scheduled shifts if the fish are simply not active. We try in these cases to reschedule volunteers into an active period.
The bottom dwelling lake sturgeon is a living fossil. This ancient species made its first appearance about 136 million years ago, just about the time dinosaurs made their abrupt exit from earth's ever changing stage. The lake sturgeon grows to be great in size and is a challenging trophy for the spear fishermen. It's also a rare fish. Sturgeon can live be over 100 years old and weigh over 200 pounds. Female sturgeon first spawn between ages 17 and 30, once mature they spawn every 4 to 7 years. Male sturgeon do not spawn until they are 12 to 20 years old, then spawn every 2 to 4 years.
Lake sturgeon in Michigan are a threatened species and a rare species throughout the United States.
Volunteering
When you volunteer your time to help with the Black River Sturgeon Guarding Program, here is a list of the recommended items you have on hand during your stay. (please note that some items are provided by SFT)
- Patrol hat for identification (provided)
- Map and compass
- Cell phone (provided), ink pen
- Sturgeon Observation and Data Sheets (3 ring binder provided)
- Binoculars / Camera / Camcorder
- Polarized sunglasses
- Flashlight
- Warm clothing, layered so it can be removed or added throughout your shift as temperatures change
- Lawn chair / umbrella
- Insect repellent / Sun screen
- Cooler / water / food
- Toilet tissue / Port-a-John on site
When arriving at the Black River to volunteer for the Sturgeon Guarding Program, please sign in / out at base camp. Also note that there is Lodging nearby.
While it is impossible to predict the exact dates that spawning will occur each year, guards are routinely scheduled from mid April through Mid May. For many this has become a family tradition.
Because we are guests on the river, our assignment is to watch the spawning areas and be visible but as low key as possible. Setting up of camping equipment, cooking, etc. is welcomed. You may obtain a DNR camping permit from the Sturgeon General. There are some general rules to keep in mind.
- Please no loud radios
- No littering will be tolerated. Take all trash with you.
- NO FISHING IS ALLOWED!
- We do not expect you to get involved in trying to physically stop any illegal activity.
- Use your cell phone and call the DNR Report All Poaching Center at 1-800-292-7800.
- Use your RAP card (provided) to document such things as: make, model, type of vehicle, license number, description of suspects, hair color, height, weight, age, clothing, date, time, and type of violation.
- Please record when, and how many fish are visible on the spawning site.
- If you find yourself at a spawning site with no fish visible, DO NOT LEAVE! Sturgeon stage in the deep water off the site and are just as vulnerable to those persons bent on taking them.
If you would like more information on the Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon For Tomorrow's Sturgeon Guarding Program, please feel free to contact Brenda Archambo, the Sturgeon General.
We hope you enjoy watching spring come to life on the Black River.
Please know your efforts are appreciated!
Sturgeon Guarding Program Welcomes New Coordinators & Returning Ambassadors
Mark and Ann Wilson Feldhauser retired September 1, 2008, following a combined 55 years of service to the State of Michigan's natural resources.
Mark worked with the Department of Environmental Quality, primarily in the Land and Water Management Program, which oversees wetlands and watershed protection.
Ann retired from the Department of Natural Resources after a career as a communications specialist, working with the Press Secretary and the Office of Communications. Both have worked closely in the area of science, policy development and public involvement.
Together, they can offer the Sturgeon for Tomorrow Program a wealth of oversight experience, a deep and dedicated love for Michigan's natural resources, and imbedded communications and organizational skills. They are excited to become involved in the effort to restore and protect the immensely valuable sturgeon species and have always admired the long-standing program that exists to accomplish that mission.
Mark and Ann married September 1, 2007 at their home in Skandia, 15 miles south of Marquette, and are dedicated to anything that is an element of the outdoors.
Needing no introduction, Dick and Sylvia Sanford of Cheboygan will again be taking up camp on the river. The Sanford’s have volunteered well over 2,000 hours as Sturgeon Guards and have acted as base camp “Sturgeon Ambassadors” for several years.
Mark and Ann will be scheduling volunteers. They will also be at base camp (site B) as our "Sturgeon Ambassadors" for the first half of the Sturgeon Guarding Program (SGP). Dick and Sylvia will be at base camp as our “Sturgeon Ambassadors for the second half of the SGP.
The 2009 SGP is tentatively scheduled to start April 26 and run through May 30. Click here to register.
We SALUTE Mark and Ann and Dick and Sylvia for their leadership and volunteer stewardship! Please be sure to stop by base camp and say hello.
Sondra Shephard Named Sturgeon Guarding Program Volunteer Coordinator
Sondra Shephard of Black Lake graciously volunteered for coordinating volunteers for SFT's Sturgeon Guarding Program (SGP). “Sondra is friendly, outgoing, dependable, responsible, and organized”, said Brenda Archambo. “Sondra has does a fantastic job of recruiting, scheduling and training sturgeon guards to stand watch over the spawning sturgeon”, Archambo said. Look for Sondra on the river in 2008. THANK YOU SONDRA!