When sturgeon spawn along the rocky shorelines of the Wolf River they pay little attention to people and are very susceptible to illegal harvest. The protection effort is directed by Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement staff and funded, in part, by Sturgeon for Tomorrow, a local sturgeon conservation organization. When spawning begins, pairs of sturgeon guards are assigned to sites for 12-hour shifts. At the end of their shift, guards return to camp for another hearty home-cooked meal before making their way home.
Many guards bring spouses and children, and have made guarding a family tradition.
While it is impossible to predict the exact dates that spawning will occur, guards are routinely scheduled from April 15 through May 5. Spawning generally occurs for a five to seven day period in that time window.