Getting in Touch With Wildlife in Independence, CA

There's nothing more exciting than learning about the history of your own backyard. Though our town is small, it is rich in breathtaking beauty and majestic animals. At Mt. Whitney Fish Hatchery, we offer a fun, engaging wildlife interpretation experience. When you visit us, you can learn about local animals, peruse our historical hatchery, and gain a deeper understanding of your surroundings.

Wildlife Interpretive Center

Our wildlife program features a 15-minute video that explains the history of our hatchery. We also cover examples of wildlife native to the surrounding area — coyotes, bears, ducks, fish, and snakes — including taxidermied animals.

For more insight into our establishment, be sure to check out our hatchery-specific exhibits. This includes our original blueprints and exhibits on the life cycles of the golden trout and mud flow patterns that affected our hatchery. In order to continue operating our various attractions, we welcome any and all donations. Though it is not required, your help would allow us to continue sharing our history and preserving our beautiful grounds.

Gift Shop

No outing is complete without a few souvenirs. In addition to our wildlife center, we also operate a gift shop. Here, we sell t-shirts, hats, keychains, and decals. All items feature hatchery — or fish-related designs. We also work with local artisans to provide handcrafted specialty gifts, including greeting cards and quilts donated by a local quilting club. In order to keep things fresh, we're currently working on a new logo for our t-shirts. Gift shop items range in price from $1 to $20. We do not offer warranties, guarantees, or return policies.