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FACT BRIEF

Are lake sturgeon endangered in the Winnebago system?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
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NO

The lake sturgeon is common in the Winnebago system, even though it is threatened in most of the United States, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR's latest stock assessment of the species in the Winnebago system, from 2023, concluded that there are "stable numbers," providing evidence of a sustainable population. 

Lake sturgeon are also commonly found in several other rivers and lakes in Wisconsin, but they are uncommon or rare in the Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, the Mississippi River, the Madison lakes and the lower Wisconsin River.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been in the process of assessing whether to list lake sturgeon under the federal Endangered Species Act.

In response, Wisconsin lawmakers have attempted to exempt the state, given that the listing probably would ban sturgeon fishing and spearing — two activities of cultural and economic importance in Wisconsin.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Wisconsin DNR Lake sturgeon
Wisconsin DNR 2023 lake sturgeon stock assessment report: The Winnebago system
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel A bill introduced Monday is designed to keep Wisconsin lake sturgeon off Endangered Species List
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.