When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, some lake sturgeon swimming through the Great Lakes today may have already been alive. For decades, scientists estimated the age of lake sturgeon by counting growth rings in fin spines. While discussing the research with a tribal community member, he learned that some Indigenous communities had long believed lake sturgeon could live as long as 400 years. Three individuals holde an adult lake sturgeon collected in the upper Black River during the spawning run in 2025. Although the study suggests many lake sturgeon live well beyond 200 years, researchers say more work is needed to understand the biology behind such extraordinary longevity.