Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office Visit our official website: https://www.fws.gov/office/alpena-fish-and-wildlife-conservation

Every dragonfly starts its life where you might least expect it, underwater! Before it becomes the fast-flying dragonfly...
10/06/2026

Every dragonfly starts its life where you might least expect it, underwater! Before it becomes the fast-flying dragonfly we know, larvae can spend up to 6 years underwater. Hidden among aquatic plants and rocks, these larvae are fierce predators that feed on insects, tadpoles, and even small fish. They use a specialized extendable lower jaw to quickly sn**ch unsuspecting prey.

This dragonfly larva was collected from an inland lake during an outreach event this spring.

Photo by USFWS/Miranda Strasburg

Happy World Teachers' Day!Today, we're celebrating the teachers who help inspire the next generation of conservationists...
10/05/2026

Happy World Teachers' Day!

Today, we're celebrating the teachers who help inspire the next generation of conservationists! From learning about local wildlife to exploring how we can protect the habitats and natural resources around us, teachers play an important role in helping students understand the world they live in and why it's worth protecting.

This summer some of our staff had the privilege of helping with Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Summer Teacher Institute held in Alpena. The goal was to teach teachers about the foundational elements of place-based stewardship education and how they can implement projects in their classrooms. This year's institute was focused on fisheries science and watershed exploration, so we got the teachers out in local streams looking for fish and macroinvertebrates.

The institute was completed in partnership with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Michigan SeaGrant, Michigan State Extension, and the Center for Great Lakes Literacy.

Thank you to all the teachers who encourage curiosity, connect students with nature, and help foster a lifelong appreciation for our natural world!

The Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project has been a major undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without an incredible...
10/05/2026

The Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project has been a major undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without an incredible amount of teamwork. Throughout the project, volunteers from across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—including staff from the Green Bay, Alpena, and La Crosse FWCOs, Big Muddy and Detroit International Wildlife Refuges, Office of Conservation Investment, Michigan Ecological Services, and Regional Offices. We were also fortunate to have support from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Clinton River Watershed Council, Friends of the St. Clair River, and many others.

Together, we relocated thousands of mussels to safer habitat before construction begins, including several rare and listed species. Every mussel represents an important part of the Maple River ecosystem, and this collaborative effort will help give them a better chance to thrive as the river moves into its next chapter.

A project of this size takes a village, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who rolled up their sleeves, got wet and muddy, and helped make it happen. Thank you to everyone who was part of the team! And with that, we’re wrapping up our look behind the scenes at the Elsie Dam Mussel Relocation Project.

Photos by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

This crayfish wanted to stop by and say "Hi! It's World Animal Day!"What's your favorite animal? Do we have any crayfish...
10/04/2026

This crayfish wanted to stop by and say "Hi! It's World Animal Day!"

What's your favorite animal? Do we have any crayfish lovers out there?

Photo by USFWS/J. McKenna

We are back with another ! And you guessed it, we are featuring another mussel! This one might be easy for you, mussel ...
10/02/2026

We are back with another ! And you guessed it, we are featuring another mussel!

This one might be easy for you, mussel experts out there. This particular individual was found in the Black River near Port Huron.

Photo by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

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While mussels were the main focus of our relocation efforts at the Elsie Dam site, they weren't the only shelled animals...
10/01/2026

While mussels were the main focus of our relocation efforts at the Elsie Dam site, they weren't the only shelled animals we encountered during our surveys. We also came across adult and juvenile snapping turtles and softshell turtles!

Look at these adorable little babies! 🐢

All turtles were handled with care and carefully moved away from all the mussel relocation activity.

Photos by USFWS/M. Strasburg and J. Samu-Pittard

The answer is… Snuffbox!This federally endangered freshwater mussel can be identified by its thick, heavy shell and tr...
10/01/2026

The answer is… Snuffbox!

This federally endangered freshwater mussel can be identified by its thick, heavy shell and triangular shape. Its shell is usually yellow, green, or brown with green rays or chevron-like markings. Females tend to be more triangular, while males are more oval-shaped.

Snuffbox also has a pretty unique way of reproducing! Females actually clamp down on a logperch, using the fish as a host to disperse their glochidia (baby mussels) throughout the river. Talk about hitching a ride! 🐟

And yes! We found several live Snuffbox during the Elsie Dam relocation project!



Photos by USFWS/Brittany Barker-Jones

When picking a location to relocate mussels prior to a construction event, a site that has a similar diversity of specie...
09/30/2026

When picking a location to relocate mussels prior to a construction event, a site that has a similar diversity of species and demonstrated recruitment is usually a good place to start. This baby mussel was found at the Elsie Dam relocation site during post-relocation monitoring for mussels moved in 2025. You can even see its single, delicate byssal thread (very different from the many and incredibly strong byssal threads of invasive zebra and quagga mussels).

Photo by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

09/30/2026

Mussels are filter feeders. They have apertures through which they take in and excrete water.

This video shows a male plain pocketbook mussel with its aperture open. The camera starts off up close to the mussel then moves away showing other mussels in the background.

This video was taken during the Elsie Dam mussel relocations, while this mussel was awaiting processing.

Video by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

Lots of common species, but some rare finds, too! Over the course of the mussel relocation survey at the Elsie Dam site,...
09/29/2026

Lots of common species, but some rare finds, too!

Over the course of the mussel relocation survey at the Elsie Dam site, our crews relocated thousands of mussels. Many were common species, such as plain pocketbooks and fat muckets, but we also found some much rarer species including four species with special conservation status.

Black Sandshells and Slippershells are both listed as threatened species in Michigan. Our team also found several recently deceased Lilliput shells within the survey area, indicating that live Lilliput mussels are likely present somewhere in the river. Lilliput are state-endangered and had not previously been documented in the Maple River, making these small-bodied mussels an especially exciting find!

We also discovered several live Snuffbox mussels, a federally endangered species, along with numerous Snuffbox shells.

Finding rare mussels like these is a reminder of just how much life can be hidden beneath the surface. Every mussel we find and every one we safely relocate helps us better understand and protect the incredible diversity of the Maple River.

These photos show some examples of the listed species we encountered during the relocation survey.

Photos by USFWS/J. Samu-Pittard

Address

585 S. Ripley Boulevard
Alpena, MI
49707

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+19893565102

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