Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery facts for kids

The Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery is a special place in Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA. It's like a nursery for fish! Here, experts help fish and other water animals to be born, grow, and then be released into rivers and lakes. This helps keep our waters healthy and full of life.

A viewing area where you can see fish.

What is a Fish Hatchery?

A fish hatchery is a facility where fish are bred and raised. The Natchitoches Hatchery focuses on "warm water" fish. This means they care for species that prefer warmer water temperatures. Their main goal is to help fish populations grow. They also work to protect species that are in danger.

Exploring the Hatchery's Facilities

The Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery is located right next to the Cane River. It has many different areas to help fish grow.

• Ponds: The hatchery has 53 large ponds. Each pond is about 0.8 acres (3,200 square meters) in size. These ponds are where many young fish live and grow before they are released.
• Learning Center: There's also a special classroom called the Harold B. Wales Environmental Education Classroom. Students from kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade visit here. Teachers also come for workshops. The classroom can hold 32 students and has 16 microscopes. These tools help students learn about fish and their environment up close.

Meet the Amazing Animals at the Hatchery

The Natchitoches Hatchery works with six different kinds of fish. They also help two other important water animals: the Alligator snapping turtle and the Louisiana pearlshell mussel.

Tanks where young alligator snapping turtles grow.

Paddlefish: Ancient River Giants

The paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a very unique fish. It's the only one left of its kind! These fish are born and raised at the hatchery. They stay there until they are about 6 to 10 inches (150 to 250 millimeters) long. After they reach this size, they are set free into the wild.

Striped Bass: Helping Them Thrive

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are part of the sea bass family. The Natchitoches Hatchery is working hard to bring these fish back to their original homes. They want to make sure there are plenty of striped bass in our waters again.

Pallid Sturgeon: Saving an Endangered Species

The Pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) is a type of sturgeon. This fish is on the Endangered Species List, which means it's in danger of disappearing forever. The hatchery is trying new ways to help these fish reproduce and grow. Their hope is to raise enough Pallid sturgeon to take them off the endangered list. This is a big step for protecting our planet's animals!

Channel Catfish: Popular and Plentiful

The Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is a well-known fish. The Natchitoches Hatchery raises many of these catfish. They are then released into lakes and rivers for people to enjoy and for the ecosystem to thrive.

Largemouth Bass: A Favorite for Fishing

The Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a very popular fish for sports fishing. Because so many people love to catch them, these bass need special care. The Natchitoches National Fish Hatchery raises over 1 million largemouth bass every single year!

Bluegill: Easy to Catch Fun!

The Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) is a fish that is quite easy to catch. This makes them a great fish for young anglers or anyone new to fishing. The hatchery raises many bluegill each year to ensure healthy populations.