Predators

There have always been predators. Seals and sea lions feasted on salmon at Celilo Falls, long before it was submerged behind the dam at the Dalles. Predators are nature's way of maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Our current system is out of balance, and it's mostly our fault. Things we have done over the last fifty years that have caused problems include: altering water flow by building dams and creating areas for predators such as the Northern Pike Minnow to flourish; introducing non-native predators such as the shad; and over protecting of the Caspian tern, double crested comorant, seal and California sea lion. While all of these contribute to decimate our salmon runs, healthy fish runs could absorb the impact of natural predation. The real threat is from a different predator.