R-MA Trout Release Goes Swimmingly

Last Friday, May 13th, three biology classes traveled to Happy Creek in Front Royal to witness the inaugural Randolph-Macon Academy “Trout in the Classroom” release.  The 35 three-inch long fingerling trout were released and the students got the chance to examine macro-invertebrates that could become food for the young fish in their new habitat. 
 
The trout quickly acclimated to the fast current and high water from the recent rain and stayed in sight long enough for students to say their fond farewells.  Members of a local Trout Unlimited chapter helped with the release and they will continue to monitor that area of the stream throughout the summer and let us know if they encounter any of our young fish.  We hope that these fish and ones from later releases will help to re-establish a population of brook trout that have been missing from this stream for several decades. 
 
Thank you to everyone that was involved in the TIC project this year.                                         

Editors note: Please let Hannah Bement know if you would like to be a part of the project next year.