Monday, January 11, 2016

Wildlife Quiz - The Landlocked Atlantic Salmon

The Landlocked Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) exists as a freshwater form of the sea-run Atlantic salmon. A fish species native to Maine waters, the Landlocked Salmon originally only inhabited the St. Croix, Penobscot, and the Presumpscot river basins. Today, Landlocked Salmon inhabit over 300 lakes and close to 50 rivers and streams throughout Maine. Though a native species, only 49 Maine lakes support natural salmon reproduction.

The remaining lakes require regular stocking efforts by Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to remain viable Landlocked Salmon fisheries. Without regular stocking efforts, these lakes would become barren of salmon populations. From 1996-2000 approximately 125,000 salmon were annually stocked in Maine lakes. Maine anglers normally catch Landlocked Salmon between averaging 17 inches and weighing 1 1/4 pounds. Occasionally a lucky angler will land a fish exceeding 5-6 pounds.

The current state of Maine record Landlocked Salmon was 22 pound 8 ounce behemoth pulled out of Sebago Lake by Edward Blakeley in 1907.

Landlocked Salmon possess a vibrant silvery coloration overlaid with small black spots predominantly distributed above the lateral line. A forked tail distinguishes it from trout species. Landlocked Salmon will feed on a variety of bait fish for sustenance but their preferred prey species is the rainbow smelt. Landlocked Salmon spawn from mid-October to late November. Female Landlocked Salmon deposit eggs in gravel where the male fertilizes the eggs, covers them with gravel and leaves them to incubate and hatch in the early spring. After hatching, young Landlocked Salmon swim free of the gravel and begin searching for food. Young salmon spend approximately 2 years in the stream, in which they were hatched, before migrating to a lake. With luck, stream dwelling fry will avoid predators, eventually growing-up and living 1-10 years. The oldest landlocked salmon on record in Maine was 13 years old.

Wildlife Quiz Questions
1. Are Landlocked Salmon an introduced species in the state of Maine?
2. How many lakes, streams and rivers for Landlocked Salmon inhabit in the state of Maine?
3. How many Maine lakes support natural salmon reproduction?
4. What is the average size Landlocked Salmon that anglers catch in Maine?
  5. What is the current state of Maine record Landlocked Salmon?
6. What is the prey species preferred by the Landlocked Salmon?
7. When do Landlocked Salmon spawn?
8. What was the oldest Maine Landlocked Salmon on record?

Wildlife Quiz Answers
1. No, Landlocked Salmon are a fish species native to the state of Maine.
2. Landlocked Salmon inhabit over 300 lakes and close to 50 rivers and streams throughout Maine.
3. Only 49 Maine lakes support natural salmon reproduction.
4. Maine anglers normally catch Landlocked Salmon between averaging 17 inches and weighing 1 1/4 pounds.
5. The current state of Maine record Landlocked Salmon was 22 pound 8 ounce behemoth pulled out of Sebago Lake by Edward Blakeley in 1907.
6. Landlocked Salmon will feed on a variety of bait fish for sustenance but their preferred prey species is the rainbow smelt.
7. Landlocked Salmon spawn from mid-October to late November.
8. The oldest landlocked salmon on record in Maine was 13 years old.

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