Fish and wildlife, Fisheries management, Invasive species management
Fish Surrender Program at the La Crosse Fish Health Center
Status
Ongoing

Location

States

Wisconsin

Subject

Animal health
Aquatic animals
Aquatic environment
Fisheries management
Fishes
Invasive species

A free alternative to releasing your fish into our environment

The La Crosse Fish Health Center offers a free and humane option for euthanizing fish that can no longer be cared for. By choosing this method, you help prevent the introduction of aquarium fish into our rivers and lakes, which is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting against invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species . This service is available to the surrounding La Crosse area.

Reasons to Avoid Releasing Aquarium Fish into Local Rivers and Streams

A person stands in front of a lake and holds a large goldfish up to the camera.
Image Details
  1. Legal Consequences: Releasing pet fish is against the law.
  2. Invasive Species Risk: Pet fish can become invasive when introduced to the wild and threaten native fish populations. For example, goldfish are considered invasive where they have been released and can grow to the size of a football.
  3. Pathogen Transmission: Released fish may carry diseases that can lead to outbreaks, significantly harming native fish and wildlife populations.

  4. Survival Challenges: Many aquarium fish are tropical species that cannot endure freshwater conditions or survive harsh winters, such as those in Wisconsin.

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We only accept fish.

Person wearing gloves holds a small bottle with white powder over a big cooler with a pale white fish that is about a foot long.
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Species we do NOT accept:

  • Turtles
  • Amphibians
  • Reptiles
  • Crustaceans
  • Snails
  • Mammals
  • Birds
  • Anything else that is not a fish

Make an appointment:

To make an appointment please contact Isaac Standish at sirisaac_standish@fws.gov

Facilities

Person dissecting three fish on tray
La Crosse Fish Health Center
Fish health centers provide expertise in aquatic animal health through diagnostics, monitoring, investigations, certifications and training related to both wild and captive populations. Centers coordinate the Wild Fish Health Survey and address emerging pathogen issues through applied research and...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
A blue sky with clouds as the sun shines on the upper Mississippi River with green bluffs in the distance.
Midwest Fisheries Center
The Midwest Fisheries Center is the region’s Fish Technology Center for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish Technology Centers provide leadership in science-based management of trust aquatic resources through applied research and the development of new concepts, strategies and techniques to...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI

Contact

Initiatives

boat with service employees electrofishing with multiple fish jumping out of water
Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Initiative
Invasive Species

Programs

A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. From habitat restoration to aquatic invasive species prevention, captive breeding to population assessment and monitoring, our programs are driven by the...
Program
Falls Church,VA
Silver Carp Jumping
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Program
A fish with a reddish tone body with black spots on upper part of body, this side view of a Chinook salmon shows the salmon swimming right above a gravel riverbed.
Healthy fisheries are core to the conservation work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are working with partners to protect and enhance the health of fish and other aquatic animals in aquaculture and in the wild.
Program
Bozeman,MT