Wildlife Quiz - Brown Trout

The Brown Trout by Steve Vose

The Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), also known as German Brown Trout, Brownie, Loch Leven Trout and Saibling, exists as a game fish native to Europe but stocked throughout South America, North America, New Zealand, Australia and many other countries. The Brown Trout was first introduced into the United States in 1884 when they were released into the Baldwin River in Michigan.

Brown Trout possess light brown coloration with pronounced black spots on the back, sides and head. These black spots are ringed with a red halo. Red spots also exist all along its sides.

In Maine, Brown Trout tend to thrive in lakes, ponds and streams that would kill Brook Trout and Salmon. Because of this Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is looking at the Brown Trout to support a viable sport fishery of the future in “marginal” waters. 

Brown Trout can grow to huge sizes depending on habitat. In a small ponds, for example, a 16-inch brown is considered big, while in large lakes they can weigh 10-20 lbs depending on available feed. In Maine, the normal size for a Brown Trout is 14-20 inches and 1-2 pounds. Maine Brown Tout will occasionally reach 10 pounds.

Young Brown Trout survive on a diet of aquatic and terrestrial insects, but browns larger than 12 inches feed primarily on large prey such as other fish, crawfish and even mice. Big Brown Trout also move very little during the day light, instead preferring to hunt for food primarily at night. Scientists tracking the movements of big Brown Trout have determined that during day light hours big Brown Trout barely move from their protective hiding places but at night they will travel miles in search of food.  

Brown Trout spawn in the fall. Young Brown Trout (fry) emerge from the eggs early in the spring and immediately begin searching for food. If able to successfully avoid predators, Brown Trout may live to exceed 20 years. 

Wildlife Quiz Questions:

1. To what other names is the Brown Trout known to be called?
2. What is the only continent where the Brown Trout is native?
3. When was the Brown Trout First Stocked in the United States?
4. What is the size of an average Maine Brown Trout?
5. What do Brown Trout larger than 12 inches primarily feed on?
6. When do Brown Trout spawn?
7. What are baby Brown Trout called?
8. How long can a Brown Trout live?

Wildlife Quiz Answers:

1. The Brown Trout is also know to be called German Brown Trout, Brownie, Loch Leven Trout and Saibling.
2. The only continent where the Brown Trout is native is Europe.
3. The Brown Trout was first introduced into the United States in 1884.
4. An average Maine Brown Trout is 14-20 inches and 1-2 pounds.
5. Browns larger than 12 inches feed primarily on large prey such as other fish, crawfish and even mice
6. Brown Trout spawn in the Fall.
7. Baby Brown Trout are called fry.
8. If successful in avoiding predators, a Brown Trout can live to exceed 20 years old. 

Smoked Turkey

Last turkey season, my sons, the Wildman eleven and Manimal nine years old, both harvested a tom turkey on youth day. Both birds were impressive specimensin their own right with one bird sporting a 10.5 inch beard and the other 1.5 inch spurs, each were just shy of 20 pounds, true trophies any sportsman would be happy to harvest. My youngest sat with me and shot his turkey in less than ten minutes, while my eldest sat with his Grampie and had to wait an excruciating long hour and fifty minutes. These gifts from the heavens didn’t just happen, they happened because I spent weeks scouting and tracking turkey movements with game cameras to lock down a solid knowledge of their daily patterns. I noted that these particular toms were strutting through our woodlot about every other day approximately between 7-9:00 am. 

With young kids, 2 hours is about all their attentions spans can handle, after that they are spent and the downward spiral to not having a good time begins. Note that this timeframe can be stretched with chocolate and good reading materials! Knowing that I had a small window of attention, I rolled the dice, got the kids up much later than on a normal turkey hunt and crossed my fingers. Lady luck smiled on us, however, and my son and I managed to squeeze into the blind right just before a huge gobble erupted in the woods only a dozen yard from where we were sitting. I clucked once on the slate call and the gobbler ran into the small field where we were sitting. Manimal raised his shotgun and BANG it was over. After the shot, Manimal turned, looked me in the eye and said, ummm, ummm I do love me some smoked turkey. I laughed so hard, I nearly had an asthma attack!  

Wildlife Quiz - American Robin

The American Robin by Steve Vose

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius), a member of the “thrush” family of avian, inhabits an impressive range stretching across Alaska, Canada, the United States and Mexico. Most American Robins migrate south for the winter, returning to their native breeding grounds, shortly after the snow begins to melt. 

American Robins or just plain “Robins”, as they are more commonly called, possess a dark black head, back and wings, accentuated by a beautifully colored reddish-orange breast that stretches from the rump to the base of their neck. In flight, a white patch under the rump can easily be seen, further assisting identification. Robins can also be located by their song, a high, shrill, often sharp ki, ki, ki, ki, typically heard at the first light of dawn.

In urban areas, Robins are frequent lawn visitors, where their impressive hearing allows them to forage for subterranean earth worms, beetle grubs, grasshoppers, caterpillars and other small invertebrates. In more forested areas, Robins also feed on wild nuts and berries.

One of the earliest bird species to lay eggs, female Robins build nests and begin breeding shortly after returning to its summer range.  Females construct nests by forming dead grass, moss, paper and twigs into a cup shape, reinforced with soft mud. Females typically lay 3-5 unmarked blue-green eggs that hatch in approximately 13 days. If juveniles can grow into healthy adults and avoid predators including hawks, cats and large snakes, Robins can live to be almost 14 years of age. 

Wildlife Quiz Questions:

1. To what family of avian do Robins belong?
2. Do Robin’s migrate south for the winter?
3. What color is a Robin’s breast?
4. In flight what detail makes Robin’s easy to identify?
5. How many eggs do Robin’s typically lay?
6. How long after hatching do eggs hatch?
7. What are the natural predators of the Robin?
8. How long do Robins live?

Wildlife Quiz Answers:

1. Robin’s belong to the thrush family of avian. 
2. Yes, a majority but not all Robin’s migrate south for the winter.
3. A Robin’s breast is a beautifully reddish-orange coloration.
4. In flight Robins can be easily identified by a white patch on its rump.
5. Robin’s typically lay 3-5 unmarked blue-green eggs.
6. Eggs hatch approximately 13 days after being laid.
7. Robins are preyed upon by hawks, cats and large snakes.
8. Robins can live up to almost 14 years of age.