upon reaching their birth rivers and streams, the adult salmon re-adapt to the fresh water and begin their upstream journey to their natal stream where they were born. At this time, they cease to feed and live on the stores of fat within their bodies. Their upstream journey is a challenging one, swimming upstream against rugged rapids, laeaping over rocky waterfalls, traversing fish ladders, avoiding fisherman nets and hooks, and staying clear of hungry bears. Whey finally reach their natal stream they have reached sexual maturity and are ready to spawn. The female adult clears a spot in the streambed by sweeping her tail back and forth creating a gravel nest that is referred to as a redd. She will then layin this redd and the male adult salmon will fetilize and protect them until both salmon die within a couple of weeks and leave the embryos to fend for themselves.