You can tell it’s fall. The days are a little shorter, the trees start changing colour and the adult salmon have returned to the rivers. The Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery in Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island provides an excellent opportunity to watch coho, chinook and chum salmon battle for the best spots in the rocky recesses of the spawning channels. While there’s a lot of activity, the cycle of life is quite evident in the water.
Leafy-lined trails that wind between the river and spawning channels offer views of other local wildlife, including birds and the occasional bear.
For directions to the Little Qualicum Fish Hatchery, operating hours and database on the salmon, visit the Fisheries and Oceans Canada web site. If you want to see the salmon, now is the best time to go!
More photos are available on Gallery.
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