Friends Treasurer
We would like to welcome new Friends Treasurer Margaret (Megs) Hurkman. We want to take this opportunity to thank outgoing Treasurer Bev Spande for her years of service to the Refuge and Friends. Bev has held the President, Vice President and Treasurer positions in her 15+ years of membership/volunteerism with the Refuge. While Bev will…
Read MoreFlowering 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…
Read MoreStorm 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…
Read MoreFree 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…
Read MoreIce 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…
Read MoreFriends 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…
Read MoreWinners 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.…
Read MoreRefuge 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…
Read MoreRefuge 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…
Read MoreSwan 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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