Observing the Trout and Gary Shmidt

Watershed has been very busy observing the trout: how they swim, how they camouflage with their natural environment, and their behaviors.

We have noticed that one of the trout has a swimming disability. It had an injury and when it healed the fin became crooked. Watershed has nick-named this trout "the trout with fin scoliosis". We believe that this trout would not survive in the wild because of survival of the fittest. But in this classroom environment he is lucky because he does not have too search for food. The trout team has also spotted him resting on the filter and plants to save energy when he is tired. We are considering keeping him because otherwise he will just have to fend for himself in the wild.

Watershed has also noticed that the trout are sometimes biting one another. They are not an aggressive species so we do not think that this will lead to any harm.



Also, Gary Schmidt, author of 2 Newbery Honor books, visited RMS today. He has written The Wednesday Wars, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and, his latest book, Trouble. He came into Watershed and was amazed by our trout! Maybe some day he will read our Nyckel book! :)