Life Cycle of
a
Salmon

1.Spawning females
deposit eggs in gravel
nests where male
sperm fertilize them.

2. Eggs hatch into sac
fry.

3. Fry grow in home
streams and begin to
prepare for life in the
ocean.

4. As smolts grow,
they store information
about their surroudings
so they can return as
adults.

5. Finally, the salmon
reach the ocean.

6. The salmon feed in
the ocean for two to
four years.

7. The mature salmon
re-enter the river from
which they came.

8. They stop feeding
and store fat for energy
to develop eggs or
sperm.

9. They continue
swimming up the river
until they reach their
home stream.

10. Adult females
make gravel nests.