The circle of life and death

A wild Oregon coast coho salmon lies dead in the shallows of Honey Creek after spawning near Glide, Ore., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. The salmon died after its long migration from the Pacific Ocean to the small creek in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.  The struggle and death of the adult fish ensures the life of the next generation.

A nearly dead salmon spawns in the creek.  Even with their shredded fins and skin the salmon still push higher up the creek to find the spawning beds from which they were hatched.