Flowering Rush Grant Proposal

At the last Friends meeting it was approved for the Friends to apply for a MN Department of Natural Resources competitive grant to combat the invasive species flowering rush. Click here to learn more about flowering rush on the Winona District by looking at the program provided by Refuge Biologist Jennie Froehly. You can learn…

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Storm Clean-up at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be conducting a storm clean-up effort at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was impacted by a derecho that swept through the area on Wednesday December 15, 2021, leaving significant damage. Staff anticipate clean-up efforts to begin Monday January 31. The focus…

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Free Weekend for Local Wisconsinites at the International Owl Center

February 5-6, 2022 | Houston, Minnesota Residents of Trempealeau, Vernon, and La Crosse Counties, including college students, are specially invited to visit the International Owl Center for FREE on February 5 and 6. The Owl Center is located in Houston, Minnesota, just 30 minutes west of La Crosse, and is the only all-owl education center…

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Ice Fishing for Kids

The annual Kid’s Ice Fishing Event co-sponsored by the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the McNally Boat Landing on Prairie Island Drive, Winona, MN. Children ages 6 through 13 and their families…

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Friends January Meeting

Refuge Friends and Volunteers, the next meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will be held at the Refuge Office (102 Walnut Street, Suite 205) beginning at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 27th. Masks will be required. If you would like to attend but are not comfortable meeting in person, a virtual option will…

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Winners Announced in Friends of the Refuge Headwaters 2021 Summer and Fall on Our Refuge Photo Contest

Winners in four categories were chosen by judges in the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters’ (FORH) Summer and Fall on Our Refuge Photo Contest. Submitted photos were taken on Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge or Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. There were 55 incredible entries from 15 photographers making judging a challenging task.…

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Refuge Volunteer of the Year Selected

From Mary Stefanski I am so pleased to announce that Lori Packer has been selected as the Refuge Volunteer of the Year! Those who know Lori understand how much she loves nature and enjoys being outdoors. You may have seen her shoveling snow last winter at the local boat landings or staining wood at the…

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Refuge Photo Contest Ending Soon 

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are reminding all amateur photographers that the deadline for accepting entries for the current photo contest is December 3, 2021. Photos that capture the summer and fall beauty of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) are part of the current…

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Swan Watching on the Upper Mississippi River

It’s been a slow start to the annual swan watching season on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) but they are starting to arrive! The tundra swan migration is a highlight of the fall on the Refuge offering a once-a-year spectacle for all to enjoy. At their peak, which usually occurs…

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Information About Refuge Boat Landings Now Available

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters wants you to get out and enjoy the refuge! To assist you with your planning, we have started a project that will provide information about the landings that you can visit. Three landings are currently available: McNally, Mertes, and Verchota. We will continue to update this list in coming…

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