The Salmon River: A Treasure for Wildlife [GPT]

In Quebec, 10% of the territory is covered by freshwater. With its 4,500 rivers and half a million lakes, Quebec represents 3% of the planet’s renewable freshwater reserves. The Lac-Saint-Jean region is no exception. It is crossed by numerous rivers, including the Salmon River, which is an integral part of the landscape of the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien.

Visitors cross it several times while exploring the walking trails. In the Parc des sentiers de la nature, the wooden bridge “le Grand Tracel” offers a magnificent viewpoint over the cascades of this 44-kilometer-long river.

This river is part of a rich ecosystem for local wildlife. It is home to many species of fish such as brook trout, walleye, and northern pike; amphibians like the striped salamander; aquatic insects; birds that feed there such as the common goldeneye; and mammals like the beaver, muskrat, and river otter.

But why is it called the Salmon River? It is because of the presence of the ouananiche (Salmo salar), the freshwater form (which lives only in freshwater) of the anadromous Atlantic salmon, which returns up its native river in the spring to spawn after spending several years feeding at sea. Unlike the Atlantic salmon, the ouananiche lives exclusively in freshwater. Aside from the Salmon River, there are three major rivers in the region where ouananiche spawn: the Ashuapmushuan River, the Mistassini River, and the Métabetchouane River.

This emblematic fish of the region lives in Lac-Saint-Jean for much of the year. In summer, mature individuals swim upstream in the rivers where they were born to spawn in October or November. The eggs hatch in May, and the young live in the river for 2 to 7 years. In the spring, the young salmon move downstream and begin their migration toward the lake. After 1 to 3 years in the lake, instinct drives them to return to their river of origin to reproduce.

Parr (young salmon) feed mainly on aquatic insect larvae, thus playing an important role in population control. Adults, for their part, reduce their feeding during the spawning period, up until their return to the lake.

When they return to Lac-Saint-Jean, adult ouananiche feed on fish, mainly rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), which is present in the lake. Over the years, scientists have collected a great deal of data and have established that there is a predator–prey cycle similar to that of the Canada lynx and the snowshoe hare. The principle is simple: when prey is abundant, predator populations increase; conversely, when prey numbers decline, predators lack food and their populations decrease. By highlighting this relationship between the two species, it is now easier to take action, such as creating artificial spawning grounds for smelt or adjusting fishing quotas to help maintain healthy populations.

Water quality is very important for ouananiche. It selects oxygen-rich and cool waters for spawning. The riverbed must be composed of gravel, where the female can dig a nest and lay her eggs.

Riverside residents can take action to help aquatic wildlife, such as planting vegetation along the shoreline. Historically, people cleared vegetation along waterways to improve the view. Over time, the banks eroded and sections of land were washed away during seasonal floods. By planting trees and shrubs, roots stabilize the banks by holding the soil and creating shade along the river’s edge. Herbaceous plants provide shelter for amphibians, which feed on aquatic insects, including black fly larvae.

During the latest phase of work at the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, special attention was given to restoring shoreline areas that had been altered over the site’s history. Over the coming years, vegetation will grow back, creating a natural setting that benefits aquatic wildlife.

On your next visit to the Zoo sauvage, take a moment to admire the Salmon River and its banks.