Volunteers did our early fall pre-spawner fish trapping today and were happy to find lots of coho smolts and cutthroat trout. All released unharmed, of course!
Placing a retrieved Gee trap in a basinette for enumeration
Lovely specimen
Volunteer Yumi measures a fish
We use dry cat food for bait
Lovely day to be on the creek!
The above two photos show the general area of the site with the trap that had the most fish. Rough areas for humans to get through, but fish love the complexity and cover.
Yumi and I did the Rolley Lake and Falls loop today in Rolley Lake Provincial Park north of Mission, BC. Easy walk in a lush forest, and around a pretty little lake.
I’ve medicated dogs, I’ve medicated cats, and I’ve medicated turtles.
They are all aware and after the first dose immediately catch on to what’s coming.
And they all cotton to various ruses within a try or two. . .
Yes, even the turtle.
I would say that in terms of potential injury to the applier of medication, cats can be the worst. Sharp fangs, incredibly twisty and strong for body size, and those fangs carry potential infection. Dogs don’t like meds, but are less likely to retaliate on a loved and trusted one.
Turtles? After the first few oral doses, if they start clamming up, it is damn hard to get them to swallow anything. You have to irritate them to the point that they get angry and open up and hiss and snap, and try to get a syringe of fluid spritzed into the mouth. Sigh.
I hate it when a pet goes from “hey, Daddy’s here!” state, to, “Oh, No, Daddy, don’t do that again” state. But, that’s part of the responsibility, eh?
And I’ll be recognized as good Daddy again some day.
My Value Village find today — a book presented to John Fraser, who was a Canadian federal Minister of the Environment, Fisheries & Oceans Minister, and House Speaker.
And a cool tidbit — he was born in Yokohama, Japan.
Every couple of years the sediment trap upstream of the artificial spawning channel on Byrne Ck in SE Burnaby needs to be cleaned out. Enviro techs, City staff, and volunteer streamkeepers salvage fish, lamprey, crayfish, etc. with nets and move them downstream as the water is pumped down.
It’s hot, muddy work, but also great fun to see what turns up!
