Salmon, having located the outlet of the stream they came from, begin their struggle against barriers and predators, to return to where they were born... uh, hatched.
The stream dumps into what looks big enough to be an ocean inlet, but it must be fresh water because they've already turned red.
linkHappy looking bear at the link too. Mmm - now I'm hungry
Salmon: The Other Pink Meat.
the theory behind salmon turning red, is that the bears are mostly nocturnal, and red is the first colour the eye loses distinction of as light diminishes.
smart little fishes!
Sounds like a good theory... except up there, as you well know, there's plenty of daylight bear activity. :confused:
Seems like one could get a lifetime's worth of Omega-3s just by rolling around in that water.
How can they call it a salmon "run"? Little fellers look like they're swimming, to me.
I just watched (listened to really, we were in the car) a show on this the other day (netflix rocks), it said that for even 100 salmon that hatch, 4 make it all the way back.
Salmon are ugly fish. I'm glad they don't spawn around here. The smell like fish too!
Salmon are ugly fish. I'm glad they don't spawn around here. The smell like fish too!
But they taste like heaven. :yum:
Salmon are ugly fish.
They said the same thing about you. :p:
Salmon in the ocean, are great looking fish. When they return to the streams to spawn, their life is just about over. They turn red (and a touch green), have little or nothing to eat, and the males especially, get that hooked jaw.
After spawning, they all die in their home stream or lake. A bonanza for scavengers, but quite a mess sometimes.