11/09/2025
We have salmon! Come visit Maplewood Farm and catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most spectacular sights! 🦅🐟
The Salmon of British Columbia: Nature’s Great Cycle:
Every year, British Columbia’s rivers and streams burst with life as Pacific salmon return from the ocean to spawn. This breathtaking migration — known as the salmon run — is not only a symbol of endurance but also a cornerstone of our entire coastal ecosystem. The Five Pacific Salmon of BC
There are five main species of Pacific salmon that call BC home:
Chinook (King) Salmon – The biggest of them all, known for their rich flavour and long migrations.
Coho (Silver) Salmon – Sleek, silver, and strong — famous for their acrobatic leaps.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon – Brilliant red during spawning and key to both ecosystems and fisheries.
Pink (Humpback) Salmon – The smallest and most abundant, returning every two years in massive numbers.
Chum (Dog) Salmon – Recognizable by their bold stripes; important to wildlife and Indigenous communities alike.
The Salmon Life Cycle
Eggs – Laid in gravel beds in cool, clean freshwater streams.
Alevin – Hatchlings remain hidden in the gravel, nourished by their yolk sacs.
Fry – Young salmon emerge to feed and grow in the stream.
Smolt – They adapt to saltwater and begin their journey to the ocean.
Adult – After years at sea, they mature and prepare to return home.
Spawning Adult – Returning to their birthplace, they lay eggs, completing the circle of life.
How Salmon Feed the Forest
Salmon aren’t just ocean dwellers — they are forest builders. When salmon return to spawn, many are caught and eaten by bears, eagles, wolves, and other animals. These predators often carry the fish into the forest, where the remains decompose and release vital nutrients — especially nitrogen and phosphorus — into the soil.
Scientists have found that up to 70% of the nitrogen in some BC coastal trees comes from salmon! 🌲
This means every towering cedar, spruce, and hemlock in salmon-bearing watersheds owes some of its growth to the ocean’s gift.
The salmon feed the forest. The forest shades and cools the streams. The streams nurture the young salmon. It’s one of the most powerful examples of nature’s balance — a living cycle that connects river, ocean, forest, and sky.
