By guest blogger Lou Sain, Park Ranger, Muir Woods National Monument
July 18, 2012
Photo by Paula Easley
When river otters re-appeared after a long absence in Muir Woods, we were so excited, but conflicted because we knew they preyed on salmon. We have endangered coho and threatened steelhead salmon in Redwood Creek in Muir Woods, at different life stages throughout the year. When the river otters show up, the rangers put out a call on our radios. It clears the buildings like an ice-cream truck rolling down a desert highway. The staff come running out to see. Both rangers and visitors follow like a gaggle of paparazzi as the river otters go up or down the creek.
On one particular day, I noticed a mama with two juveniles nosing in and out of root wads, large woody debris jams, deep pools; all of the likely places where salmon might be. The juveniles were nose to nose with mama. She seemed to want to get away and have a meal. I realized that her behavior was actually teaching the juveniles how to hunt. What a formidable force the three of them were in the water! What will happen to the coho that are on the brink of extinction?
When they crossed under Bridge Number Two, and I stood to watch the cloud of silt they stirred up in their passing, I saw salmon of various sizes come out in their wake. The fingerlings feasted on the margins of a silt cloud that was fast collapsing. They rounded up the benthic macro invertebrates that tend to be on the bottom. As we know, the majestic salmon are not bottom feeders. Isn’t that the way with nature? With one exception, predators don’t get all the prey. In all of nature, we humans are that one exception.
Join us on Muir Beach, where Redwood Creek meets the ocean, for the traditional salmon blessing by the Coast Miwoks, and share stories and poetry of the glorious things of nature. Welcome Back Salmon, Nov. 11, 1 – 3PM. and/or join the Redwood Creek Restoration at Muir Beach stewardship team for weeding and planting on the floodplain, Nov. 11, 9:30 – Noon. For more information, send us an email.
From ROEP: Thank you, Lou, for your beautiful illustration of the river otters’ place in the long, flowing life of the river! We will be there with you to welcome back the Salmon in November and to share in the joyous homecoming of the gorgeous and priceless Salmon people who return from the sea bringing life and sustenance to the land.