Seneca Media joined the Seneca Nation Conservation – Fish & Wildlife team for their seasonal electrofishing trip on the Allegany Reservoir. A short electric current is sent into the water, temporarily stunning fish for safe collection. This allows for population monitoring and tagging for future study.
Among the species collected were walleye, pike, and sauger. When the Kinzua Dam was built, many fish and wildlife species native to the Ohi:yo’ were devastated. Sauger, a close relative of the walleye, were once extirpated from the waters in the Onoville region. Thanks to the efforts of Seneca Fish & Wildlife and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, sauger were reintroduced around eight years ago.
Brook trout are another species native to this region. An old story tells of Creator pulling a dull-colored trout from a cold mountain stream. Hungry, he thought to eat it, but chose to return it to the water. In doing so, all the trout were transformed, taking on vibrant colors. Today, brook trout are in decline. They live in cool streams that feed into the Ohi:yo’ from the hills, but their habitats are in danger due to clearcutting and logging.
As Onöndowa’ga:’, our way of life has always been tied to the land and waters. Understanding the cycles of the natural world and our role in them is part of our responsibility as stewards of the land. At Seneca Media & Communications, we aim to share the work being done across Seneca Nation departments and help our people stay informed, connected, and grounded in who we are. Nya:wëh to the Fish & Wildlife & Environmental Conservation crews for all you do to protect and preserve our environment and wildlife!
