Saving Pacific lamprey, one mind at a time

Today's petroglyph tour was such a great experience. As part of a group of 25 random "tourists," we were guided along a trail overlooking the River that ran beneath a cliff face. On these basalt cliffs are centuries-old pictographs and petroglyphs.

When the tour was over and we were walking back, I struck up a conversation with one member of the group, whose knowledge of lamprey is based on his acquaintance with the invasive sea lamprey. I saw an opportunity to engage in some educating while doing a little public relations for Pacific lamprey, and explained that the lamprey in the Great Lakes are invasive species and entirely different from Pacific lamprey, which are indigenous to the Columbia River system, and serve an important function in the ecosystem and food chain. Using the example of salmon predation by sea lions and seals, I explained how Pacific lamprey are natural prey for these mammals, so the salmon predation problem is a result of the absence of Pacific lamprey in the lower river, estuaries and ocean. He was surprised to learn that Pacific lamprey are a desirable species in the Columbia River, so I went on to explain the concept of "buffer species" to him. By the time the group returned to the parking lot, he had an entirely different outlook on Pacific lamprey.

It felt so great to use what I have learned to educate someone! Educating one mind at a time to save Pacific lamprey! Hurrah!