Durango Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum

Alex and a bear

We have a bear living in our neighborhood.  She hasn't been to our house yet, but she got into the neighbor's freezer and ate two giant pork roasts.  It is super dry and the bear is down this way looking for food and water.  The kids have spent days making bear traps, looking for the bear and trying to hear it.  No luck yet for them!  I am grateful.

Joseph pretends to get eaten by a bear.

Caroline and Joseph display an arctic wolf pelt.  It was huge.

Speaking of huge, the kids pose in front of an elk.

Snowy Owl

 We went to Durango for well child visits and made a side trip to the Wildlife Museum and Fish Hatchery. This little outing was free except for the donation for the fish food (about $3).  The museum had several stuffed animals that you can't touch, but plenty of pelts and furs that the kids could touch and hold. It was really interesting and the guide was so nice and knowledgeable.  Outside the fish hatchery was lots of fun. You feed the fish and they all jump up and swarm the food. The kids had a great time feeding them, and we are all excited to go back again soon!

What is a trip to Durango without a stop at Papa Murphy's to pick up some yummy pizza to take home and cook and a slush at Sonic! Good thing the doctor appointment was done before Happy Hour got over.  All three girls are healthy and growing great!  Grace is in the 76th percentile for height. We've never had such a thing in our family!  Both boys went the week before and are in the 8th percentile. Caroline had three shots and was a trooper, barely complaining, "Ow! That hurt a little bit" was all that she said.  We like our new pediatrician and had a great day!

The water is full of rainbow trout. You can't see them very well, but it is amazing how many are in the water.

 

Grace poses by the raceway.  Check out the fish in the water.

Courtney is showing off her missing bottom right tooth. She lost it last week.  She has another one wiggling. 

Courtney holds her fish food.  Every time someone threw food in, tons of fish would swarm to eat it.

This hatchery raises over 2 million rainbow trout each year to be released into streams and lakes at various times of the year.

Getting brave and walking across the raceway.

This is a giant show rainbow trout. They don't release these, just show them in the show pond in the front of the hatchery.