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
All La Crosse Fish Health Center programs are offered through the Midwest Fisheries Center. 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. Each year, the center co-sponsors several events in the community. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities available in several different areas.
Services
About
Established in 1962, the La Crosse Fish Health Center serves as the region’s fish doctors. We provide fish health inspections and diagnostic services to national fish hatcheries in the Midwest region. Like all animals, fish are susceptible to a variety of environmental, nutritional, and infectious diseases. If left untreated, these diseases can often lead to death. Infectious diseases, those caused by pathogens - organisms such as parasites, bacteria or viruses - are of special concern because they can be easily spread to other fish within a hatchery, to another hatchery during fish transfers, or to wild populations if infected fish are released. Through surveys, inspections, and research we help to keep fish, freshwater mussel, and amphibian populations healthy for the continuing benefit of the American people.
