A team from the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department continues to work the Missouri River, looking for signs of continued life in an endangered species.

Sam Stukel, based in Yankton heads up the crew that has been searching the river, looking for signs of natural reproduction of palid sturgeon. He says they took part in a multi state effort a few weeks ago, looking for the fish in the river…

 

Stukel says while they netted four big male sturgeon, they did not find any females, which is not surprising…

 

Stukel says they did not have a good haul this year…

 

The sturgeon eggs are tended at the state fish hatchery near Gavins Point Dam, then released into the river. Stukel and his team have been searching for years for signs of natural reproduction in the river, but so far, no luck.