Gary Kozub has fond memories of teaching local children about kokanee salmon.
The longtime Lake Country resident pioneered a fish incubator project on a small creek in the George Mitchell Wildlife Preserve and was heavily involved with bolstering the salmon population for 18 years.
So when one of the preserve香蕉视频直播檚 two metal incubators was vandalized earlier this month, he was beside himself.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just so upset that someone would damage the ones we have,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播�(They used to be made out of wood and we had) to rebuild them every couple years because they would rot out in the ground.香蕉视频直播�
Back when he started, Gary would take the fry up to Davidson Elementary school every year.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檇 hit three or four classrooms and I香蕉视频直播檇 talk to the kids about what the fish and game club does,香蕉视频直播� he said.
It teaches kids the cycle of life, Gary said. As the fish die, their bodies feed the insects that later feed the fry.
香蕉视频直播淓very fall we香蕉视频直播檇 go in there and strip kokanee eggs out of Vernon Creek), fertilize them and stick them in incubators,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 cannot believe someone would do that, especially since we worked so hard to put these (together.) When we started there was no kokanee fishing in Wood Lake.香蕉视频直播�
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For the last few years, the incubators have not been used, but Gary said the last salmon population numbers increased from their original numbers and it香蕉视频直播檚 not just him who helped build their presence.
The Kozub family have been stewards of the fish, as Gary香蕉视频直播檚 whole family has helped him with the salmon project over the years.
香蕉视频直播淔or someone to go in there and destroy something that took 18 years (to build)香蕉视频直播f the kokanee population was to ever drop again and if we started taking eggs again, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what we香蕉视频直播檇 do,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just sick. I could not believe it, that someone would do that.香蕉视频直播�
His personal connection to the salmon started after he ended his military career and his father, who was president of the Oceola Fish and Game Club, got him involved.
香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to learn, so I read what I could and I香蕉视频直播檇 walk the creek and watch what the fish were doing,香蕉视频直播� Gary said.
In spawning season, he香蕉视频直播檇 put his hand in the creek and watch the salmon brush against him.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 amazing, it香蕉视频直播檚 so neat what these fish do and they would come up at night and there (were so many) you could walk on top of them.香蕉视频直播�
In the summers, he would give tours to Lake Country Cubs and Scouts.
Nick Kozub, Gary香蕉视频直播檚 nephew, has been the president of the Oceola Fish and Game Club for the last year.
Nick said damage was done to a viewing platform in the wildlife preserve about seven or eight years ago, and every once in a while people will squat in the park, but overall it香蕉视频直播檚 been quiet.
Upon biologist requests, they haven香蕉视频直播檛 incubated eggs in the last four years to see how the fish survive naturally, he said, but they were at one time crucial for stocking Wood Lake.
香蕉视频直播淲hen this first started we were lucky to have 700 fish come up the creek香蕉视频直播ast year was 33,000,香蕉视频直播� he said.
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香蕉视频直播淚t would be nice to catch (the vandals), so we can educate them, for them to do something like this, I don香蕉视频直播檛 think they realize what this did to our community. To have that kokanee stock in Wood Lake, local anglers, out of town anglers come to town just for these fish.香蕉视频直播�
The incubator was built by volunteers, and Nick said a local plumber and metal shop have already stepped up to donate time and supplies.
Even if the incubators are not used right now, he would like them to be used for educational purpose.
香蕉视频直播淓verything lives and dies, even the deaths contribute to the nutrition of the waters香蕉视频直播e need to keep our water systems clear and clean,香蕉视频直播� he said.
The small creek needs work, so instead of donations, he asked for volunteers to help the club clean the creek this summer.
香蕉视频直播淥n Dec. 2, Lake Country RCMP received a report of a mischief discovered at the Winfield Creek Wildlife Habitat Preserve on Bottom Wood Lake Road,香蕉视频直播� said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O香蕉视频直播橠onaghey in an emailed statement.
香蕉视频直播淧olice were told that an unknown person or persons gained entry into a fenced compound and caused damage to an inactive fish incubation and spawning system being stored on the multi-acre property.香蕉视频直播�
The property representatives, who estimate the damages caused to be $1,000, have been unable to determine exactly when the vandalism would have occurred. Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact the Lake Country RCMP detachment at 250-766-2288 and cite police file 2018-74117.
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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