SCHOOL KIDS GEAR UP TO RAISE RAINBOW TROUT

Every January since 2001, teachers and students at approximately 50 Clark County schools eagerly set up 10-gallon aquariums that will serve as table-top hatcheries for rainbow trout. The schools are part of the Trout in the Classroom program sponsored by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Participating schools receive about 200 trout eggs each year and students have the opportunity to see them hatch and then raise the fish right in the classroom.

After the fish are large enough, the students will have the opportunity to see their fish released into a predetermined body of water. The program is tailored to students in grades four through six.

“This is a unique opportunity for young people to get a first-hand look at one of nature’s wonders while participating in the conservation process,” said NDOW Angler Education Coordinator Ivy Santee.

Teachers who are new to the Trout in the Classroom program must complete a training program in which they learn about the equipment they will be using and what they need to know about hatching trout eggs. The NDOW will receive and distribute the trout eggs on February 5. Santee said that’s when the fun begins.

The fertilized eggs will hatch in about five to seven days after they are placed in the aquariums. Then, depending on the water temperature, it will take as long as a month before the tiny fish are ready to be released.

This year NDOW has set up an aquarium in the lobby of their Las Vegas office so those who are interested in the Trout in the Classroom program can stop by and monitor the progress of the eggs and eventually the fish that hatch from them. Visitors will get a close-up look at the various stages the fish go through until they develop into swim-up fry.

“Everyone in encouraged to come by and get a look at the eggs, and eventually the fish. They can also help us predict the day the eggs will hatch. If people are interested, they can help with the release of these fish into Lorenzi Park Pond at 4 p.m., Fri., March 14.

More information about the Trout in the Classroom program can be found on the NDOW website (www.ndow.org) or by visiting the NDOW office at 4747 Vegas Drive, Mon. – Fri. from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.