We took an overnight camping trip in search of spawning Kokanee and native Western Painted Turtles, and were happy to see both!
Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon that spend their entire life cycle in fresh water, whereas anadromous sockeye hatch in fresh water and go out to the ocean for rearing, then return to spawn and die in fresh water.
Mature Kokanee are smaller than sockeye, about as large as a midsize cutthroat trout.
Western Painted Turtles are considered endangered in some areas, and protection and recovery programs are in place.
Mission Creek and the turtle pond Kelowna, BC.