Strawberry Creek Salmon Spawning Facility Tour

Join Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff for a tour of the Strawberry Creek Chinook Salmon Spawning Facility, located adjacent to the Door County Land Trust’s Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. Each October, mature Chinook Salmon make their remarkable journey up Strawberry Creek to spawn, providing a spectacular natural event. At the spawning facility, their eggs are collected, fertilized, and then transferred to the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery for rearing.

In the spring, approximately 110,000 salmon fingerlings are stocked into the pond at Strawberry Creek.  Here, they are nourished for several weeks, imprinting on the creek before they make their way downstream to the vast waters of Lake Michigan. This cycle not only supports a thriving fishery for local anglers but also ensures that many of these salmon will return to the creek as mature adults to spawn, continuing the cycle.

This interactive, informative tour will delve into the fascinating life history and biology of Chinook Salmon, exploring their role in the Great Lakes ecosystem. Learn about the challenges they face, the science behind the spawning facility and hatchery process, and the contributions this facility makes to the region’s fishery heritage. Don’t miss the chance to witness the inspiring journey of an iconic species.

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