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“Saving our Sturgeon” teaches young readers about Wisconsin’s iconic big fish. Cover image: Wisconsin Historical Society

Call it a fish story, but author Rebecca Hogue Wojahn’s latest book is absolutely true. 

Set to be released on August 19, “Saving our Sturgeon: Protecting Wisconsin’s Ancient Fish,” tells the story of how conservation efforts rescued lake sturgeon from extinction in Wisconsin. With kid-friendly illustrations, photos, and maps, the book explains how factors like overfishing and dam building threatened sturgeon survival and how people banded together to save — and continue to support — the iconic big fish.

Anne Moser, Wisconsin Sea Grant education coordinator and senior special librarian at the Wisconsin Water Library, served as a consultant on the book. She kickstarted the project by pitching the idea to the Wisconsin Historical Society Press in 2022.

Author Rebecca Hogue Wojahn. Submitted photo.

“For many years, I’ve travelled to libraries and learning centers across the state teaching kids about Great Lakes fish and fishing, and their eyes always light up when I talk about lake sturgeon — how big they are, how they have barbels and scutes and how they can live to be 150 years old,” said Moser. “The conservation story shows kids how they can make a difference, and Rebecca was the perfect writer to bring that story to life.” 

Wojahn, herself a public school librarian, has written several other science and animal-themed books for young readers. And while she didn’t initially know much about sturgeon, she felt drawn to the topic. 

“ It was a really good fit for me because most of my life I’ve lived in Wisconsin, and I love the outdoors,” she said. “It’s history, it’s science, it’s everything I love.”

Wojahn did extensive research to write the book, digging through archives and conducting interviews with biologists, members of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, and volunteers of the Sturgeon Guard who worked to prevent poaching at spawning sites. She also made it a point to experience sturgeon in person and travelled across the state to visit hatcheries, observe spawning and spearing, and release baby sturgeon into Lake Michigan. 

Fisheries outreach specialist Titus Seilheimer fact-checked the book, and of course, Moser was a big help. “Anne, as every librarian will, gave me tons of resources,” said Wojahn. 

One of those resources was “People of the Sturgeon: Wisconsin’s Love Affair with an Ancient Fish,” a book written by former Wisconsin Sea Grant staff members Kathy Kline and Fred Binkowski and sturgeon biologist Ron Bruch. The book, which was written for adults and published in 2009, served as a launching spot for Wojahn, who wrote “Saving our Sturgeon” to be appealing and accessible to readers aged 11 and up. Luckily, knowing what young people read is, quite literally, Wojahn’s day job.

“I’ve always felt that being a school librarian has been a huge secret weapon for my writing because I am interacting with my audience,” she said. “I can tell when their eyes glaze over and when they’re like, ooh!”

Both Wojahn and Moser said the story of the sturgeon is a special one, in part because it’s a rare conservation success story. Returning the lake sturgeon to Wisconsin’s waters took decades of hard work from many dedicated people, and the book shows young people that they, too, can get involved and have an impact.

Wojahn also hopes readers feel a sense of wonder. “There are so many wild creatures that you may not even know about that need their space in our state, too.”

You can purchase the book at the Wisconsin Historical Society’s online store or at your favorite bookstore. 

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The University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center administers Wisconsin Sea Grant, the Wisconsin Water Resources Institute, and Water@UW. The center supports multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach for the protection and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s water resources. Wisconsin Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of marine resources through research, education, outreach, and technology transfer.

Original Article

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

News Releases | Wisconsin Sea Grant

https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/news/new-childrens-book-celebrates-sturgeon-conservation-in-wisconsin/

Jenna Mertz