Biologists tag minnows for Tennessee release
Biologists at Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery prepared rare minnows for release into Hickory Creek.
Conservation teams joined forces on October 13, 2026, to handle the endangered Barrens Topminnow carefully. They worked together at the Tennessee hatchery to ensure these unique fish were ready for their journey back to the wild.
Scientists counted twenty-one males and twenty-three females before placing them in an anesthetic solution for tagging. This quiet process allowed the team to mark each individual with a bright green gel tag beneath the skin.
After tagging, the fish returned to fresh water where they regained strength and resumed swimming. Each small body now carries a marker that will help biologists track their survival after the upcoming release into native waters.
On November 4, 2026, the tagged fish will travel to Hickory Creek for their return to the wild. Some are returning to ancestral waters while others experience wild currents for the very first time in their lives as captive-born individuals.