Whitney Genetics
Onalaska, WI 54650-8552
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.
All of the programs we offer are free of charge.
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.
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
The Whitney Genetics Laboratory specializes in high-throughput environmental DNA (eDNA) processing to monitor aquatic invasive species. Services include early detection of invasive carp, species identification via genetic sequencing for fisheries work, and genetic surveillance of invasive species using metabarcoding. The lab also provides genetic data for conservation programs regarding threatened and endangered species.
About
The Whitney Genetics Lab was established in 2013 to support early detection of invasive carp across the Chicago Area Waterway System and Great Lakes tributaries using environmental DNA (eDNA) testing. Housed within the Midwest Fisheries Center, the lab processes approximately 8,000 field samples annually and provides genetic sequencing for species identification in support of fisheries and endangered species conservation. The lab collaborates extensively with federal, state, and university partners to develop and refine scientific monitoring methods.