Sturgeon season on Black Lake in Northern Michigan is a wild Sisyphean spectacle that simultaneously protects this endangered species while celebrating their harvest. This year, around 500 fishers set up ice shanties on the frozen lake just south of Cheboygan for a chance to spear one of the "prehistoric beasts." During the course of the season, only seven sturgeon are allowed to be caught. Not seven per person, seven total. Because of this, the entire season can last mere minutes. This year, it lasted just over two hours.

Lake sturgeon can live to be 200 years old and reach lengths of six feet. Historically, sturgeon was an important staple of native diets. Once abundant in the region, sturgeon populations have been severely threatened by habitat loss, dams, farm runoff, and overfishing. To combat these threats, local organizations began working with the department of natural resources to restore habitats and give the species a chance to rebound.

Volunteers, along with DNR staff, monitor the spring spawning runs, tag fish, and help keep an eye out for poachers. Meanwhile, a multi-state partnership across several state and federal agencies are restocking the Great Lakes region with 25,000 sturgeon per year.