⚙️ how

How do salmon smell their way back to their home stream?

Quick Answer

Salmon use a highly sensitive sense of smell to recognize the chemical signature of their natal river. This olfactory map helps them return to spawn after years at sea.

The Full Story

Many salmon are famous for returning from the ocean to the river where they were born. Scientists believe they imprint on the unique smell of their home stream when young. Years later, they use that odor signature, along with other cues, to find the correct watershed. This is known as natal homing. Their ability to navigate over long distances is one of the most impressive migrations in the animal world.

Key Facts

1.uses smell for natal homing
2.returns to spawn in the birthplace river
3.migration can take years

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