We explored the Capilano River trails to understand how salmon and forest biodiversity are connected. We matched the smells to try out how salmon find their way home. The life cycle activity was a favourite, with each person trying her luck at survival to adulthood and spawning. Only one person made it, while the rest of us fell prey to mudslides, warm water temperatures, and a wide array of predators.
Despite some initial reluctance, the Guides were keen to get hands-on with the salmon, examining its swim bladder, egg sacs, gills, and even the pyloric caeca. They asked excellent questions and came away with more appreciation for our local salmon species. At the end, we released our salmon specimen to the river, appreciating that it would become food for local wildlife (maybe the eagle or heron watching nearby).