Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Invasive fish species in Banff harvested to feed injured raptors

Shelley Humphries, aquatics specialist for Banff, is pictured with Spirit the golden eagle at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. Humphries is leading a project restoring the population of the westslope cutthroat trout, a native species to Alberta, and handed over for feed eastern brook trout removed from the park.
Photograph by: Courtesy, Parks Canada

Invasive fish species in Banff harvested to feed injured raptors

Less competition for native trout, more food for birds

By Clara Ho,
Calgary Herald
January 2, 2012

Eagles at the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale received an unexpected holiday gift when Shelley Humphries stopped by the facility in late November.

The Parks Canada aquatics specialist for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks dropped off nearly 90 pounds of frozen eastern brook trout, a welcome donation for the not-for-profit organization that rehabilitates injured birds of prey and helps release them back into the wild.

"It's always helpful if we can have food donated," said Colin Weir, managing director of the facility, which takes in 100 to 200 birds year-round.

"This was a real win-win situation since they had to eradicate the lake of that fish species, and instead of going to the landfill, they'll be helping eagles in captivity that will be returning to the wild."

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