4 Facts About the Lake Sturgeon You May Not Know: Species at risk series
This monthly series features at-risk plants and animals found in the Ottawa Valley and what we can do to protect them.
This month, we’re focusing on the lake sturgeon, otherwise known as Acipenser fulvescens.
In the Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence region, this fish is endangered, meaning it’s close to becoming extinct if action isn’t taken soon.
However, the Southern Hudson Bay – James Bay population is categorized as special concern, meaning it may become threatened or endangered soon.
What does the lake sturgeon look like?
The lake sturgeon is Canada’s largest freshwater fish.
At its biggest size, this fish can weigh up to 400 pounds and reach over two metres long.
Its body is light to dark brown or gray, with a lighter stomach.
The lake sturgeon can be differentiated from other fish species not only by its size, but also its snout. The lake sturgeon has an elongated snout with four organs resembling cat’s whiskers hanging near its mouth.
How long can a lake sturgeon live?
This fish’s history can be tracked to related species dating back 200 million years.
A lake sturgeon can live for more than 100 years.
Where do these fish live?
You’ll find this large fish in freshwater lakes and rivers with bottoms consisting of gravel, mud, or sand. They’re typically found five to 20 metres below the water’s surface.
In the Ottawa Valley, the lake sturgeon can be found in within the rivers and connecting waterways of the Hudson Bay basin, Great Lakes Basin, and the St. Lawrence river.
What threatens the lake sturgeon?
Improvements have been made in water quality and the regulation of commercial and recreational fishing of lake sturgeons in Ontario.
Unfortunately, habitat fragmentation and regulated water flows from dams remain the greatest threats to this species.
What can you do to help?
Subscribe to our newsletter or donate today to support our work in the Ottawa Valley protecting habitat important to this and many other species at risk.