Wray Fish Hatchery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wray Fish Hatchery |
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| General information | |
| Address | 35677 Road FF |
| Town or city | Wray, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 40°03′03″N 102°09′21″W / 40.05084°N 102.15570°W |
| Inaugurated | 1939 |
The Wray Fish Hatchery is a special place in Colorado where fish are raised. It's like a farm for fish! This facility helps produce both warm-water and cold-water fish. It is run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. You can find it near Chief Creek and Stalker Lake in Yuma County.
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Building the Wray Fish Hatchery
The Wray Fish Hatchery first opened its doors in 1939. For many years, it has played a key role in helping fish populations grow in Colorado's lakes and rivers.
Raising Tiger Muskie
In 2012, the hatchery started an exciting new project. They began working with Burch Lake near Longmont. Their goal was to help create a population of a special fish called the tiger muskie in Colorado.
Tiger muskies are a hybrid fish. This means they are a mix of two different types of fish. To make tiger muskies, female muskellunge fish are bred with northern pike. This cross-breeding helps create strong, healthy tiger muskie fish for the state.
Fish Species at the Hatchery
The staff at Wray Fish Hatchery work hard to support many different fish species. They help raise "broodstock" fish. Broodstock are adult fish kept for breeding. These fish produce eggs and young fish.
Types of Fish Raised
The hatchery raises broodstock for fish like black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. These fish are important for keeping local waters healthy. They also provide good fishing opportunities.
Other Fish Species
Other types of fish also come through the Wray Fish Hatchery. These include walleye, saugeye, channel catfish, wiper, and grass carp. Some of these fish come from other warm-water lakes and hatcheries in Colorado. Others are traded from places outside of the state. The hatchery helps make sure there are enough fish for everyone to enjoy.
