Every year at our Intermediate School, the kids get to take part in a "circle of life" science lesson. They raise salmon eggs through the fall and winter, keeping track of how quickly they change from egg to little squirmy thing to bigger squirmy thing to something vaguely resembling a small fish. Then they release them in a stream to become part of our area's salmon population. If the mini-salmon are extremely lucky, they will return to the same stream in about five years to spawn. They have about a .0000001% chance of avoiding bigger fish, pollution, illness, bears, and fisherman, so out of the 100 or so fish the kids released, I think that means about .00001 of them will return. The kids had great time catching the little guys in clear plastic cups, walking them carefully down to the stream and wishing them well on their journey through life. Who knows, maybe one of the salmon will win the lottery and return to complete the circle! Even if doesn't, I still think this is a great, hands-on science activity for the kids, and one that they enjoy, which is important, too.
Trying to catch a salmon-fry.
This one Ben named "Meatloaf" Salmon loaf would have been more appropriate, maybe?
Getting ready to release Meatloaf into his new home.
Just keep swimming...
This is a lovely spot for baby salmon. I hope they get to enjoy it!
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