Have you been trying to spot salmon from the bridge? 

This time of year it can be tricky to find them, but they are there! The Dungeness River is home to 4 primary salmon species including: Pink, Chum, Chinook and Coho. Each of these follow unique migration patterns and have varying rates of growth. However, all salmon species are Anadromous, which means they hatch in freshwater, spend their adult lives in the ocean and return to their original freshwater to spawn. 

The fish found in the river at this time of year (late winter) are mostly smolt. Smolts tend to spend between 3 hours to 3 years in freshwater, feeding in calm river pools before heading out to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. At the moment, the majority of the salmon are adults living out in open Pacific waters, feeding and growing strong to prepare for their final journey back to their spawning sites. 

Come back in the fall to see salmon returning for their spawning season! We will begin to see fish arrive in August. They will boast a slightly different form as spawning adults, many turning various colors and developing hooked noses. Upon return to their original homes, the salmon’s ultimate goal is to lay and fertilize eggs. Shortly after their mission is completed, the salmon will die and their bodies will decompose to give valuable nutrients to the entire ecosystem! Even feeding the bugs that will later feed their babies. 

If you’d like to see “baby salmon” aka Alevin, come check out our exhibit room! We have a tank filled with 500 Alevin coho salmon. At this stage, they are tiny (about 1 inch long) hiding amongst the rocks and still feeding off of their own egg sack attached to their bellies. Look closely at the bottom of the tank and you’ll see them snuggled together hiding from predators. Recently, they’ve begun to come out of hiding and some are swimming around!

Eventually, all of the coho will grow into Fry where they emerge to feed on the nymphs and larvae of insects. When they’re old enough, the nature center will release them into the Dungeness River. If you’re interested in taking part in this special event, keep an eye out on our Facebook page for updates and check out this article for more information! 

A Salmon’s Life Cycle: 

 Eggs 

• Deposited in Redd nest sites. 
• Takes 3 months to hatch

Alevin

• In this stage for 30-50 days 
• Egg sack attached
• Feeds off sack

Fry

• For 3-4 months
• Stay in gravel nest
• Feeds on insects
• Swimming short distances 

Smolt 

• Hours or 1-3 years (Species dependent) 
•  Transition phase between fresh and saltwater: smoltification. 
• Stay in estuaries to adapt for a days or weeks

Adult

• Spend 1-6 years in Pacific ocean waters
• Feed on squid, shrimp, and small fish such as herring and anchovies. 
• Grow big and strong

Spawning Adult

• Return to the rivers where they were born 
• Spawn and die within 2 weeks
• Leave eggs in protected Redds to start the cycle again