Conservation surveys are in full swing here at A Rocha Brooksdale. Amphibians are laying their egg masses, birds are building their nests and Salish Suckers are spawning in the Little Campbell River. A Rocha’s conservation science team, partnered with local biologist Dr. Mike Pearson, have been setting traps throughout the river, looking for the endangered Salish Sucker in order to better understand the resident population. Trapping began in fall 2011 after a surprise Salish Sucker capture in Brooksdale Pond by a conservation intern.
Peter hauling a trap out of Brooksdale pond
Salish Suckers were thought to be extirpated from the Little Campbell River, and had not been found here since the 1970s. October 2011 survey results found two additional adult suckers in the upper watershed. Now for the big news… 2013 surveys have just been completed and a total of five S. Suckers were found: four adults and one juvenile. Can you guess where the juvenile sucker was found?? In a small wetland, on A Rocha Brooksdale property, created this past summer as part of a habitat enhancement project for Coho Salmon and Salish Sucker!
This juvenile was quite young, which means that Salish Suckers have spawned very near or on Brooksdale property. We are so pleased to host some of the last surviving Salish Suckers in the world and are thrilled to see that they are actually rearing in the off-channel habitat we created for their use.
*Photos by Mike Pearson
A live juvenile Salish Sucker
Wetland habitat, created by A Rocha, where the juvenile Salish Sucker was found.
