La Crosse
Plan Your Visit
Lobby
Our lobby features interpretive panels about the history of the Midwest Fisheries Center and the work we do. The lobby also features a 720 gallon tank with fish native to Wisconsin. The lobby is open to visitors Monday - Friday, except federal holidays: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tours
Tours can be scheduled by members of the public, groups, or even as a conference field trip site. We offer tours of the Midwest Fisheries Center, featuring a 40-minute overview of our mission and work, a walkthrough of the Whitney Genetics Labs and our Fish Health Center, and a glimpse of the boats and equipment used by field biologists. There is an option to include a field portion of the tour which includes an electrofishing demonstration where visitors can see the incredible fish of the Mississippi River up close.
Our laboratories and other work areas are not open for drop-in tours so we encourage visitors to email or call to pre-arrange a tour.
Contact Cristina Dahl at cristina_dahl@fws.gov or 608-514-1337 for a tour.
Featured Species
Get Involved
The Midwest Fisheries Center offers environmental education activities for community groups and schools. In addition, the center can lend fishing poles to local community groups. Every July, the center co-sponsors Youth Outdoor Fest in La Crosse, Wisconsin in partnership with the La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry department. The Center also allows job shadows and offers limited volunteer opportunities.
Other Offices within the Midwest Fisheries Center
The La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is housed within the Midwest Fisheries Center, which also includes the La Crosse Fish Health Center, Whitney Genetics Laboratory and administrative, GIS and outreach staff.
Work with Us
Our dedicated employees perform a wide range of jobs at national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries and with public, tribal and private partners.
We hope you’ll join us in advancing our mission of working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Services
About
The La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, established in 1981, works to monitor invasive species and restore threatened native fish and mussels. It provides technical expertise to tribal governments and coordinates habitat restoration projects like the Driftless Area Restoration Effort across several states. The office is housed within the Midwest Fisheries Center in Onalaska, Wisconsin.