So my volunteering with ODFW is coming along, it gives me some good real world experience for what I would love to do as well as gets me outside doing the things I love to do, see and study animals!!

I went and did some fish sampling, which consisted of walking up a stream with a backpack electrical charger, where the biologist would shock the water and as the fish float up or try to swim away I would net them and put them in a bucket, once we had enough we would count and measure them.  We did this at Ceder Creek which is a run off of the Mckenzie.  Took about 4 hours to do all the sampling but it was amazing!

This is a male shiner in his breeding colors, beauitful fish

and this is a 16 inch cutthroat trout

Fish sampling is really important as it gives us an idea of how well the native fish population is doing compared with farm raised fish.  In Oregon we only have about 20 percent of Native Trout and Salmon in our rivers (according to the biologist I worked with).  That’s pretty bleak.

Doing these types of things really enforces my desire to get into this field so I can help….but thats where the bad news comes in.  The biologist I worked with gave me some grim details about the workforce, there are no new jobs being created, but lots of people trying to get in the field, so its very difficult.  With that knowledge I am not going to really pursue getting a job with ODFW on a permenant basis, however I do plan on making volunteering for them a hobbie of mine, something I can do to assist our enviorment even if it’s not full time.

I was a little sad about this decision, but volunteering is so much fun and teaches me a lot and I am helping as much as they allow.

Ohh also, I GOT A BOAT!! Granted it’s just an 11′ inflatable with a small electric motor, but its perfect for what we need right now, and allows us to really enjoy the water and fishing.

So there is my update for this month…and I want to say Thank you to my friends and family who always encourage me to do the things I love, without you I wouldn’t ever think I could!

Thanks!!!