I was happy to see a Coho salmon on a Byrne Creek walk in Burnaby, BC, today.

And I was unhappy that it had died before even colouring up, and that it was a female full of eggs.

We have had problems with Coho pre-spawn mortality on Byrne Creek for many years, and also with released Coho smolts in the spring.

Research in Washington State by Dr. Jenifer McIntyre has linked such Coho deaths to a chemical found in tires that washes off roads and into creeks.

NOTE: Streamkeepers have training and permission to assess salmon after they have spawned and died for species, sex, size, and spawning status. Is is illegal to interfere with spawning salmon.