Journey with Dylan Dreyer Season 2 Episode 12 The Surprise Salmon

In season 2, episode 12 of Journey with Dylan Dreyer, titled The Surprise Salmon, viewers are taken on a journey to explore the fascinating life cycle of one of the most iconic fish in the world - the salmon. Host Dylan Dreyer travels to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States to witness the incredible journey of salmon from their births in mountain streams to their eventual return to those same streams years later in order to spawn and continue the cycle of life.

As the episode begins, viewers are introduced to the various species of salmon found in the Pacific Northwest, including the Chinook, the Coho, and the Sockeye. Dylan and her team highlight the unique physical characteristics of each species and explain how they adapt to their environments in different ways. From there, the focus shifts to the beginning of the salmon life cycle: spawning.

Dylan visits a salmon hatchery and learns about how fish and wildlife officials collect eggs and milt from spawning salmon in order to fertilize them and start the hatchery process. She also gets a behind-the-scenes look at how young salmon, known as fry, are raised and ultimately released into nearby rivers and streams to begin their journey to the ocean.

Once in the ocean, Dylan shows viewers how salmon migrate incredible distances - sometimes over 1,000 miles - before returning to their birthplace several years later to spawn and restart the cycle. Along the way, she highlights the various dangers that salmon face, including predators and environmental factors like climate change.

The highlight of the episode comes when Dylan and her team witness an incredible phenomenon: the return of hundreds of adult salmon to the very small stream where they were born. This stream, barely a few feet wide in places, is home to a large run of Chinook salmon, and the team is able to witness the fish returning to spawn. Dylan speaks with local fish and wildlife officials about the importance of protecting these streams and the salmon that rely on them.

Throughout the episode, Dylan and her team use stunning visuals to showcase the beauty and complexity of the salmon life cycle. From underwater shots of salmon navigating rapids to aerial shots of the vast ocean, viewers are treated to a visual feast of some of the most beautiful parts of the Pacific Northwest.

Overall, The Surprise Salmon is a fascinating and educational look at one of the most important species of fish in the world. Dylan Dreyer and her team do an excellent job of highlighting the unique characteristics of salmon and explaining why they are so important to both the environment and local communities. Viewers will come away with a newfound appreciation for these incredible fish and the journey they undertake each year.