Friends of Trempealeau Refuge

10/24/2026

Visitors may have noticed we had some signs up recently closing down a section of the refuge for a Prescribed Burn, but what exactly is a Prescribed Burn? It's a land management strategy that we utilize in order to make sure our ecosystems are staying healthy and in balance! Natural ecosystems are supposed to experience small fires here and there as a result of things like lightning strikes and other natural conditions, which does actually HELP our ecosystems! Without any fire for extended periods of time our ecosystems can become unhealthy; trees are stressed by overcrowding, the fire-dependent species disappear, and highly flammable material builds up and becomes much more dangerous. By deploying strategic burns, we can ensure that hazardous fuels don't build up and result in dangerous or extreme wildfires, we can remove unwanted or invasive species, provide forage and materials for wildlife, recycle nutrients back into the soil, and promote the growth of new trees, wildflowers, and second successional species that only grow after fire events!

Photo credit and description: Wildland firefighter looking from a distance at a prescribe burn at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge by Bruce Henry / USFWS

10/14/2026

Continuing with our National Wildlife Refuge Week post our highlighted refuge is, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is located in western Wisconsin. The refuge was established by an Executive Order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as "a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife." The original refuge consisted of a 706.9-acre upland portion with open areas of former hay, pasture, and croplands. An office and maintenance shop complex were constructed in 1936, along with temporary facilities for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, which was located on refuge lands until the advent of World War II.

For more than 40 years, the refuge remained small, despite several attempts to purchase more than 5,000 acres of the surrounding Delta Fish and Fur Farm, Inc. In 1975 - Dairyland Power Cooperative acquired the surrounding land around Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge from Delta Fish and Farm, Inc. and, in 1979 - Dairyland power sold 4,778 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which added a significant portion to the refuge. Recent acquisitions have brought Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to its present 6,808 acres.

The refuge prairie-oak savanna, marsh and bottomland hardwood forest offer great habitat to a great diversity of species. Throughout the year visitors can experience fall waterfowl migration, wonders of winter, spring migration and summer blooms. Refuge grounds are open sunrise to sunset year-round. Whether you preferred enjoying the great outdoors by hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, camping, or kayaking just to name a few, nature is calling! We are so happy to see the many visitors that come to enjoy the refuge and all the wonders it inhabits.

For more information about Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/trempealeau

Photo credit and description: Group of ducks flying with fall color vegetation at the background by Bruce Bartel / USFWS

10/09/2026

National Wildlife Refuge Week, observed the second full week of October each year, celebrates the great network of lands and waters that conserves and protects Americans’ precious wildlife heritage. This year, National Wildlife Refuge Week takes place October 10th through 17th.

We know you’re familiar with Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and all the incredible things you can see and do here, but did you know that the refuge system includes over 570 national wildlife refuges representing all 50 states and five territories? As we celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week this year, we’d like to highlight some of the other National Wildlife Refuges in the region. Stay tuned over the next week to learn more about your public lands that are just a day or weekend trip away! At refuges that charge an entrance fee, those fees will be waived on Sunday, October 11th!

Learn more about the National Wildlife Refuge System here: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system.

Photo credit and description: Sunrise over a marsh at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge by T. Everhardt / USFWS

10/09/2026

We’re celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week!

Spend time outdoors at your local national wildlife refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 10-17, 2026. Enjoy outdoor recreation on the nation’s premier network of public lands dedicated to wildlife conservation, the National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Join us in a self-guided hike as you walk through Pine Creek D**e following the prompted signs. The Find Your Calm Trail activity will let the sounds and sights of nature guide you as you appreciate the landscape around you.

*Saturday October 10 – Saturday October 17
*Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Find Your Calm Trail from sunrise to sunset.

Photo credit and description: Light blue sign with wording that says; 'Your Calm This Way', with green vegetation in the background by Tucker Mills / USFWS

10/04/2026

09/30/2026

The red-tailed hawk is a common raptor across North America, known for it's mottled plumage of rich browns and white feathers as well as it's distinct call. A call so distinct that it's usually what you hear in a movie instead of the sound of a Bald Eagle! The long, distinct "scream" of the red-tailed hawk sounds fierce and imposing, especially compared to the whistles and chirps of the Bald Eagle. As a result most media uses the call of the red-tailed hawk instead of the true noises of a Bald Eagle!

Photo Credit and Description: A red-tailed hawk perches on a tree. Photo by Jean Bohlinger / USFWS

09/25/2026

As a flycatcher, the Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) is a small but quick bird, taking lots of short but speedy flights in order to feed on insects with their small, thin beak. Usually seen around Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge during their breeding season, beginning in early April. Due to favoring open habitats with short plants and other low perches, they tend to stick around for quite some time before making their way back down south. The name actually comes from their song, which sounds like the bird saying "fee-bee!" Phoebes can also be seen wagging their tails up and down frequently while perched and sometimes have a peak to the feathers on their head!

Photo credit and description: Eastern Phoebe perching on a plant by Tucker Mills / USFWS

09/24/2026

09/23/2026

The Blanding's Turtle is a rare species to see, due to the risk from habitat fragmentation, common nest predation, and other environmental risks. During their mating seasons from May to July, they can migrate up to a mile in search of a suitable habitat to lay their eggs! Blanding's Turtles can be found throughout the Great Lakes region but can even be in some places in the New England region, and even up to Nova Scotia! Known for their distinct, bright yellow chin they are a unique species since as they age even up to 80 years old, they show almost no signs of aging!

Photo credit and description: Blanding's turtle by Courtney Celley / USFWS