What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 8am - 3:30pm Thursday 8am - 3:30pm Friday 8am - 3:30pm

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Home
United States
Trempealeau, WI
Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Call Directions Website

Visit our official website: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/trempealeau Welcome

This is an official page of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

To learn more about our social media efforts, and to find a list of official USFWS social media sites, please visit our social media hub:http://www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia/

Our agency is known for our scientific excellence, our stewardship of lands and natural resources, and our dedicated conservation and wildlife professionals. While we hope that this page will help you stay connected to our work, we also hope that it will keep us connected to you and the issues you care about. Your participation on this page is vital and all feedback is welcome--both good and bad. Your perspective is welcomed and we hope that conversations about the Service can be productive, fun, and engaging.

10/31/2026

The Blue Jay is a commonly seen songbird due to its bright coloration, large size, and their penchant for making lots of noise. Blue Jays can be skilled at mimicking the calls of other birds, including Red-tailed Hawks! It's unknown if they copy their calls as a way of deterring rivals or as a warning system to alert other Jays of a Hawk's presence. They're also a very mysterious migrant, with various Jays having strange migration patterns including skipping years, migrating in different directions, or even not migrating at all! Despite their bright blue coloration, their closest relatives are actually crows and ravens, due to them all being Corvids.

Photo credit and description: Blue Jay perching on a tree branch by Jean Bohlinger / USFWS

10/30/2026

Common Goldeneyes are a very aptly named duck species, recognizable from their tall head crests and bright golden or amber colored eyes. They breed up in the boreal forests of the far north, but come down further into the USA during the winter months as late fall migrants. Goldeneye chicks are also admirable, leaving their nests just a single day after hatching! The ducklings are able to feed themselves, and only rely on their parents for protection. The males can be seen in winter and early spring doing complex and elaborate courtship dances and displays for females, including a move where they bend their head back to touch their rump before thrusting forward and kicking up water with its feet.

Photo credit and description: Goldeneye swimming by Larry Palmer

10/29/2026

One of our most interesting ducks; the Northern Shoveler! Named and known for their distinct shovel or spoon-shaped beak, they put all 2.5 inches of it to good use while they dabble to feed in our pool system. They even have about 110 fine projections along the sides called "lamellae" that help to act like a filter when they feed! When scared off of their nests, the females sometimes also defecate on the eggs as a way of deterring predators by making them much less appetizing. Gross, but quite effective!
.

Photo credit and description: Northern Shoveler by Jean Bohlinger / USFWS

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

10/23/2026

We all know and love our Monarch butterflies, and all about how they rely so heavily on milkweed, but another insect can be found feasting on our milkweed plants at Trempealeau; The Large Milkweed Bug! A bright, distinct orange much like our Monarchs, the Large Milkweed Bug feeds on milkweed plants, and can be found throughout North America, Central America, and as far south as Costa Rica! They complete several molts in their life, and will mate year-round if in more tropical environments. In more temperate zones they will only reproduce during warmer months. Their primary food source is milkweed, but they can also feed on some other flowering plants, and will even opportunistically predate on aphids, and monarch caterpillars and eggs if food is particularly scarce. Juvenile Large Milkweed Bugs are particularly, though, and feed exclusively on milkweed seeds for their growth.

Photo credit and description: Milkweed bugs feasting on milkweed by Ryan Hagerty \ USFWS

10/16/2026

Closing our National Wildlife Refuge Week post our highlighted refuge is, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge lies in the heart of one of the most diverse transition zones in North America. Here in Rochert, Minnesota, eastern deciduous hardwoods, northern coniferous forests and western tallgrass prairie converge - creating a rich assemblage of both plants and animals. It is also a meeting place for wildlife. Where these biomes meet, their plants and animals overlap. Birds migrating north and south can find food and shelter here. Species from different ecosystems live side by side. Reaching the edge of their natural ranges you’ll find unique opportunities to see an abundance of diversity on the refuge. A few of the species to look for include trumpeter swans, golden-winged warbler, scarlet tanagers, common loon, otter, beaver, and black bear.

People have also been drawn here. For hundreds of years, Indigenous peoples and settlers have gathered here to savor the natural resources of this plentiful landscape. Hunting, fishing, harvesting wild rice, collecting the sap of maple trees, and more. Today White Earth Nation natural resource staff are co-stewards of the refuge. You can explore the refuge on foot through the many trails, by boat on the pristine lakes, or by car on the scenic wildlife drive. In the winter enjoy snowshoeing, groomed cross-country ski trails, and ice fishing. For announcements and details on public events happening at the refuge, keep an eye on our page

Photo credit and description: Tamarac Refuge was named after the tamarack tree which turns a brilliant gold in the late fall before dropping, making it a deciduous conifer. Tamarack trees with golden yellow needles, trumpeter swans and ducks in the marshy foreground by Blackledge / USFWS

10/15/2026

Day 5 - Seney National Wildlife Refuge

This year, Seney National Wildlife Refuge is celebrating 90 years of being your national wildlife refuge—90 years of stewarding wetlands, forests, and wildlife in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Since 1935, Seney NWR has been a place to slow down, reconnect with nature, and witness the beauty of the seasons. From trumpeter swans and loons to beaver and wolves, this refuge is a haven for wildlife—and a peaceful retreat for people. Come birdwatch, hike, fish, hunt, ski, snowshoe, forage, or just enjoy the quiet.
Over nine decades, there has been plenty of change—on the land, within the wildlife populations, and in how we try to care for it all. We’ve made mistakes, learned lessons, and celebrated wins—many of them made possible by the support and suggestions of visitors and community partners. Whether you’re a local who visits often or a traveler passing through, thank you for being part of our story. Your refuge is still here, still wild, and still working to protect the natural world for generations to come.
o Temporary Visitor Center: Open May 15 – October 20 | Tues–Sat, 9 AM – 4 PM
o Marshland Wildlife Drive & Fishing Loop: Open May 15 – October 20 | Dawn until Dusk
o Refuge Property: Open to foot traffic year-round | Dawn until Dusk
o Please note: Some areas remain closed due to ongoing improvements funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.
Seney NWR and its Whitefish Point Unit are part of a larger refuge complex, managing lands across northern Michigan—including Harbor Island, Huron, and Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuges, as well as the Kirtland’s Warbler Wildlife Management Area. For more information about Seney National Wildlife Refuge visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/seney

Photo credit and description: Trumpeter swan family in the fog at Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Two adult and one juvenile trumpeter swans float on a calm body of water in an autumn fog. Shrubby shoreline with a few red pine trees are behind the swans by Teresa McGill / 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

10/13/2026

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

This 43,000 acre refuge was once under the ice and waters of Glacial Lake Wisconsin. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is now an exposed, ancient lakebed where shallow surface water streams life into the Great Wisconsin Swamp. Subtle sand ridges remain from the lakebed that rise out of the waterways to hold oak savannas and sand prairies. Seen for its importance to migratory birds by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, the refuge was set aside for those migrations, breeding birds, and resident wildlife and for generations of people to enjoy.

Restoration of the waterways in the Little Yellow River help provide healthy hydrology to the ecosystem of the refuge. See our work being done to help support ducks, swans, cranes, turtles, frogs and fish! https://www.fws.gov/story/2025-05/little-yellow-river-repairing-watershed-resilient-community

Visit Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in one of its “Seasons of Wildlife” https://www.fws.gov/refuge/necedah/species
Watch wildlife, take photos, hike, hunt, fish, maybe even snowshoe, and be sure to stop in the visitor center year-round. The refuge has 6 different hiking trails open sunrise to sunset traversing the mixture of land and water showcasing the magnificent plants and animals that call the refuge home. Visitor Center hours are from 9am-3pm and can vary by day depending on the season. The Karner Korner Nature Store has refuge wear, ID books, stickers, stuffies, and outdoor recreational items for sale each day the visitor center is open. Call ahead, check our website, and official Facebook for more information before you visit. We look forward to seeing you and sharing recent wildlife sightings for your visit!

Photo credit and description: Picture #1, Autumn sunrise on Rynearson Pool #1 as a pocket of orange and gold sunlight tint the lower clouds, blue-black shadows fill in outlines of the trees, shoreline and grasses under the bright white of the upper clouds above by Katie Goodwin / USFWs. Picture #2, Striking white whooping cranes almost shine in the low light while the gray sandhill cranes blend into the water, mudflats and grasses of the wetland by Roger Leitner / USFWS.

10/12/2026

Continuing with our National Wildlife Refuge Week post our highlighted refuge is, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge spans four states, running 261 river miles from Wabasha, Minnesota down to Rock Island, Illinois. The refuge encompasses 240,000 acres of floodplain habitat and offers a rich mosaic of wetlands, forests, and backwaters that support an incredible diversity of wildlife. Visitors can witness seasonal spectacles like the fall waterfowl migration, early spring bald eagle migration, spring songbird migration, hear the summer chorus of frogs, enjoy summer wildflower blossoms, and spot countless fish and mammal species throughout the year. With more than 3.7 million annual visits, the refuge is a popular destination for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, canoeing and kayaking, art in the outdoors and more!

Refuge trails and waterways are open from dawn to dusk. Although boating provides the most intimate look at this river refuge, many visitors enjoy viewing the wild and scenic beauty of the refuge from roadside overlooks along refuge lands and along state and local parks that border the refuge. Check out the Refuge Pool Maps to see the location of observation decks, trails, boat ramps and other visitor facilities and learn about special regulation areas - https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/upper-mississippi-river-pool-maps. Free public interpretive programs take place across the year and are posted on the refuge website and page - fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river/events Refuge naturalists will be staffing the Brownsville Overlook in November - more info coming soon!

The La Crosse District Visitor Center, located in Onalaska, Wisconsin is open for summer hours during May through October, Tuesday – Saturday, 9am to 3pm. Winter hours are Tuesday – Friday, 9am to 3pm during November through April. Closed on federal holidays. The Prairie Wind Nature Store is staffed by Friends volunteers. Wildlife enthusiasts of all ages are invited to complete Junior Refuge Manager activities to earn a free badge and bring your pup to model good dog walking ethics and earn a free BARK Ranger bandana! Please call ahead for the BARK Ranger program so staff may meet you outside – 608-779-2399. These programs are only available at the La Crosse District Visitor Center. The Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center, located in Thomson, Illinois, is open Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm, however, hours may vary. Check out a free “Let’s Go Outside” backpack to use while exploring the trails! The Winona District Office (Winona, Minnesota) and McGregor District Office (Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin) are open by appointment only.

For more information about the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river

Photo credit and description: Picture #1, Fall color on the Upper Mississippi River near Dresbach, MN. A refuge staff person stands in a boat on the Mississippi River backwaters wearing a bright yellow float coat. The bluffs in the background are covered with yellow, orange and green leaves / by USFWS. Picture #2, A view from a duck hunting blind on Pool 9 of the Mississippi River backwaters. Cattails edge the top and bottom of the photo as the photographer peers out from a duck blind on the Mississippi River backwaters. A set of duck decoys float to the right of the photographer in water covered with aquatic vegetation. The rising sun gives the trees in the background a red-orange glow by Hallie Schulz / USFWS. Picture #3, A young visitor and friends enjoy the fall waterfowl migration at the Brownsville Overlook, near Brownsville, Minnesota. A child peers through a mounted spotting scope on an observation deck along the Mississippi River backwaters. Tundra swans appear as white dots in the water in front of the overlook. Bluffs rise in the background of the photo / by USFWS.

Address

W28488 Refuge Road
Trempealeau, WI
54661

Opening Hours

Wednesday	8am - 3:30pm
Thursday	8am - 3:30pm
Friday	8am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+16085392311

Website

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/trempealeau/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.