October 22, 2013 The Soos Creek Salmon Hatchery

In conjunction with our study of animal life cycles, the Navigators and the Explorers went to the Soos Creek Hatchery in Auburn. Some coho have begun to run but most are waiting for rain down river and in the Elliot Bay. It was very exciting to see the various stages of the salmon's life: the adult, the egg and the fry.

Mrs. Gary tells us the background of the hatchery. It was established in 1901.

Watching the adult coho salmon in the pond. 

A frozen king salmon with a hooked nose

25,000 eggs per basket!

The eyes were wiggling!

Feeding the salmon in the fry stage
450,000 fry (fries?) in this retaining pond

This fry will be released in April, 2014.

The salmon change color when they head up the river to spawn.

The Navigators and the Explorers love field trips!

And they make great fish faces!

Thank you to our wonderful chaperones.