Squamish residents may be seeing more “Think Pink” signs in and around local waterways and that’s because pink salmon have returned to the region to spawn.
Tiffany Brunke, an education outreach co-ordinator and naturalist with the Squamish River Watershed Society, told The Squamish Chief that the pink salmon are moving up nine rivers and creeks currently and will remain until October.
“The pink salmon/Sts’u’kwi7 have already returned and will be making their way up several local river and creek systems to spawn: Squamish River, Mamquam River, Stawamus River, Cheakamus River, Britannia Creek, Mashiter Creek, Hop Ranch Creek, Pilchuck Creek, and Ashlu Creek,” she wrote.
She continued that these salmon prefer to spawn in shallow rivers and creeks within 1.5 kilometres of the mouth. They return every other year as they spawn larger numbers.
To help our fishy friends, Brunke wrote that we can keep the rivers and creeks free of weirs (or low dams), keep ourselves and pets out of the water to protect the eggs, pack out anything we pack in, and leave shrubs and vegetation on banks alone to attract insects for the fry to eat and avoid erosion.
Eight “Think Pink” signs have been posted around Squamish waterways to remind users in the area of the pink salmon spawning.
Brunke noted that after spawning, these salmon will die, thereby adding nitrogen and phosphorus to the riparian forests and helping feed over a hundred plant and animal species.
Pink salmon can be distinguished from other salmon by large dark oval spots on their back and tail fin. Breeding males develop humps and are red with brown and green blotches on the sides whereas breeding females lack the hump and are less distinctly coloured.
They are the smallest Pacific salmon in North America, usually weighing between 1.6 to 2.3 kilograms (3.5 and five pounds) and about 50 to 64 centimetres (20 to 25 inches) in length.
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