By Judy Wickland
While majestic eagles and beautiful orcas capture attention, salmon are equally remarkable. These determined animals undertake a heroic upriver journey. The life cycle of Pacific salmon species—pink, coho, chinook, chum, and sockeye—varies by spawning colors and river residency.
Each fall, their migration draws crowds. Focused solely on reproduction, they skillfully navigate waterfalls and other obstacles to reach spawning grounds. It all begins as an egg buried in gravel. The female digs a hole, called a redd, to hide her bright orange eggs from predators like dippers and trout.
Winter rains bring risks—swollen rivers can displace gravel and eggs downstream. Salmon eggs are especially vulnerable to light and motion, making gravel cover essential.
In spring, eggs hatch and become fry, ready to feed in the stream. Soon they migrate to the sea as smolts, undergoing physiological changes to thrive in saltwater. Salmon are anadromous—they shift between freshwater and marine habitats, a rare feat.
Clear, cool, oxygen-rich streams are vital. After adapting in estuaries, they journey to the Pacific, sometimes as far as Alaska, where they remain for 1–7 years. When it’s time to spawn, they return—guided by smell—to their natal river.
Sadly, salmon numbers in many rivers have sharply declined due to human impact. Changing waterways may hinder their ability to return home.
Everyone has a role to play in protecting salmon. They nourish bears, orcas, humans—and even the forest. Preserving their habitat means safeguarding the web of life that depends on them.
Salmon aren’t just swimmers—they’re ecological heroes.