I have been putting this blog thing off but it actually was pretty easy!
I started my REU experience last summer and I have enjoyed every minute of my field work. I didn't much care for the class work part of it and the oral presentations. I loath public speaking but I know it is a necessary evil in the scientific world.
My background is domestic animals (I am a licensed Vet Tech) I didn't know a thing about fish except that they lived in water! When Brian Hauge told me that I had to work with the Lower Elwha Tribe Hatchery on their estuary study they had going on I was really wondering what I got myself into.
The things I have gotten a chance to do at the hatchery are too numerous to mention. I would literally be here all day! The highlight of this past summer was surgically implanting acoustic tags into juvenile Coho! I also got to help pump Native Steelhead reds in the Elwha. It is truely amazing to see these tiny little fry with yolk sacs come from the gravel at the bottom of the river. The best part was the days we did the pumping was the hottest of summer and we got to be on the river where it was nice and cool!
