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Live Foods from the WildLive Foods from the WildPart III – How to Collect Part III – How to Collect

Wild FoodsWild FoodsA presentation forA presentation for

The Angelfish SocietyThe Angelfish SocietyFebruary 20, 2011February 20, 2011

by Tamar Stephensby Tamar Stephens

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About this presentationAbout this presentation

This is Part III in a series of presentations on live foods This is Part III in a series of presentations on live foods from the wild. from the wild.

Previous presentations in this series:Previous presentations in this series: Part I Nutritional value of wild foods. (Sept. 19, 2010)Part I Nutritional value of wild foods. (Sept. 19, 2010) Part II Where to find wild foods. (Oct. 17, 2010)Part II Where to find wild foods. (Oct. 17, 2010)

(Previous presentations can be found at (Previous presentations can be found at http://www.theangelfishsociety.org/PresentationsTASNew.htmlhttp://www.theangelfishsociety.org/PresentationsTASNew.html) )

The rest of this series will cover:The rest of this series will cover: Part IV: Types of wild foodsPart IV: Types of wild foods Part V: How to culture wild foods Part V: How to culture wild foods

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In this presentationIn this presentation

Various equipment that can be used for Various equipment that can be used for collecting wild foodscollecting wild foods

Transporting collected organisms home Transporting collected organisms home alive alive

Some health and safety precautionsSome health and safety precautions

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Recap of where to find wild foodsRecap of where to find wild foods

Recall from Part II of Recall from Part II of this series that most this series that most wild foods are found in wild foods are found in aquatic habitats, aquatic habitats, primarily calm water primarily calm water bodies, including:bodies, including: PondsPonds PuddlesPuddles LakesLakes SloughsSloughs Rivers and streams in Rivers and streams in

calmer areas along calmer areas along vegetated banksvegetated banks

Noyes Slough, Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey)

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Types of equipmentTypes of equipment

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You will need wide mouth jars or You will need wide mouth jars or other types of containers to other types of containers to hold live food that you harvest hold live food that you harvest from the wild. from the wild.

You can save up used jars, use You can save up used jars, use wide mouth canning jars, round wide mouth canning jars, round or rectangular glass or plastic or rectangular glass or plastic containers, or just about any containers, or just about any type of container with a lid. type of container with a lid.

Glass containers are easiest to Glass containers are easiest to clean and sanitize, but take clean and sanitize, but take care if you use glass containers care if you use glass containers because they can break if because they can break if dropped. dropped.

Containers Containers

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BrushesBrushes

Small, soft artist or paint Small, soft artist or paint brushes can be used to brushes can be used to collect small organisms, collect small organisms, such as worms or masses such as worms or masses of protozoa from the of protozoa from the undersides of leaves and undersides of leaves and rocks.rocks.

Gently wipe the area to gather Gently wipe the area to gather organisms, then dip the organisms, then dip the brush in a jar of water and brush in a jar of water and swirl gently to shake them swirl gently to shake them loose into the water.loose into the water.

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Eyedroppers, basters, etc.Eyedroppers, basters, etc.

Various sizes of droppers can be used for Various sizes of droppers can be used for many purposes: many purposes: collecting organisms, collecting organisms, sorting them when you get home, sorting them when you get home, transferring them to other containers, and transferring them to other containers, and for feeding fish.for feeding fish.

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Nets and sieves Nets and sieves Various nets and sieves can be used for Various nets and sieves can be used for

collecting, as well as transferring to collecting, as well as transferring to other containers when you return other containers when you return home. home.

You can buy nets with various mesh You can buy nets with various mesh sizes. sizes.

You can also make your own by sewing You can also make your own by sewing cheesecloth or nylon hosiery around a cheesecloth or nylon hosiery around a loop of wire hangar.loop of wire hangar.

For collecting it is best to make the net For collecting it is best to make the net deep, and to make it balloon out to deep, and to make it balloon out to allow plenty of surface area to allow allow plenty of surface area to allow water to flow through. water to flow through.

A long enough net can be folded as it is A long enough net can be folded as it is removed from the water to keep removed from the water to keep captured critters from escaping. captured critters from escaping.

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TrapsTraps

Various types of traps can be devised. A simple Various types of traps can be devised. A simple type of trap is to position a net in the water, type of trap is to position a net in the water, staked in place so the current flows through it. staked in place so the current flows through it. When you disturb vegetation or rocks just When you disturb vegetation or rocks just upstream, the organisms are swept by the upstream, the organisms are swept by the current into the trap. current into the trap.

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Protective clothingProtective clothing

You need to protect yourself while you are doing You need to protect yourself while you are doing your collecting. your collecting. Wear a hat or cap for protection from the sunWear a hat or cap for protection from the sun Wear rubber boots if you expect to be wading in Wear rubber boots if you expect to be wading in

shallow watershallow water Rubber gloves can help protect your hands from a Rubber gloves can help protect your hands from a

variety of possible problems, including scrapes on variety of possible problems, including scrapes on rough rocks, insect bites, leeches, etc. rough rocks, insect bites, leeches, etc.

Mosquito repellant. If you are going to be collecting in Mosquito repellant. If you are going to be collecting in a mosquito-ridden area, put on your mosquito a mosquito-ridden area, put on your mosquito repellant before you leave home. Take care not to repellant before you leave home. Take care not to introduce it into your collection water. introduce it into your collection water.

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Transporting collected organisms Transporting collected organisms home alivehome alive

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Ice chest or toteIce chest or toteIf you have filled a variety of containers on If you have filled a variety of containers on

your collecting trip, you will need your collecting trip, you will need something to carry them in. something to carry them in.

As you collect, you want to make sure you As you collect, you want to make sure you don’t leave your containers in the direct don’t leave your containers in the direct sunlight. sunlight.

A plastic tote or an ice chest can be used A plastic tote or an ice chest can be used to hold your collection jars and to keep to hold your collection jars and to keep them out of the direct sunlight. them out of the direct sunlight.

Bring something to wrap the containers in Bring something to wrap the containers in or to pad the spaces between them so or to pad the spaces between them so they don’t get damaged. Use bubble they don’t get damaged. Use bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper, clean rags, wrap, crumpled newspaper, clean rags, etc. etc.

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Avoid overcrowdingAvoid overcrowding

Don’t try to put too many organisms in a single Don’t try to put too many organisms in a single jar. Overcrowding will lead to using up the jar. Overcrowding will lead to using up the dissolved oxygen very quickly.dissolved oxygen very quickly.

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Keep it shortKeep it short

Try to work quickly and Try to work quickly and efficiently so you can get efficiently so you can get the organisms home as the organisms home as soon as possible after soon as possible after collecting them.collecting them.

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Keep it coolKeep it cool

Overheating will result in depletion of oxygen Overheating will result in depletion of oxygen and death of collected organisms.and death of collected organisms.

You can keep them cool and shaded in the You can keep them cool and shaded in the ice chest. ice chest.

You can also bring ice or blue ice along in You can also bring ice or blue ice along in the ice chest to cool your collected items. the ice chest to cool your collected items. This will help preserve dissolved oxygen, This will help preserve dissolved oxygen, will lower the metabolic rates of the will lower the metabolic rates of the collected organisms and make it more collected organisms and make it more likely that you will get them home alive.likely that you will get them home alive.

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A few health precautionsA few health precautions

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Giardia lambliaGiardia lamblia

Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by a microscopic organism (protozoa), caused by a microscopic organism (protozoa), Giardia lambliaGiardia lamblia..

Be aware that many streams and ponds are now Be aware that many streams and ponds are now infected with infected with GiardiaGiardia, so you want to make sure , so you want to make sure you don’t drink the water. Wash your hands well you don’t drink the water. Wash your hands well before you handle food or touch your face. before you handle food or touch your face.

You will also want to take care with your collected You will also want to take care with your collected items to avoid potential contamination of your items to avoid potential contamination of your aquariums.aquariums.

Other microorganisms may be present in the water Other microorganisms may be present in the water that can harm your health, such as that can harm your health, such as E. coliE. coli..

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PollutionPollution

Be aware that many streams and ponds near Be aware that many streams and ponds near urban areas may have pollutants that could urban areas may have pollutants that could harm your fish. harm your fish.

Irresponsible people dump assorted trash and Irresponsible people dump assorted trash and other wastes into water bodies, including used other wastes into water bodies, including used oil, disposable diapers, old car batteries, and oil, disposable diapers, old car batteries, and other items that may pollute the water. other items that may pollute the water.

If you have any doubts about a possible collection If you have any doubts about a possible collection area, then don’t risk yourself or your fish. area, then don’t risk yourself or your fish.

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Use good safety precautionsUse good safety precautions

Be careful about wading into a Be careful about wading into a stream or pond. People may stream or pond. People may have disposed of sharp pieces have disposed of sharp pieces of metal, broken glass, or other of metal, broken glass, or other items that can injure you.items that can injure you.

Watch out for algae-covered Watch out for algae-covered slippery rocks to avoid slipping slippery rocks to avoid slipping and falling.and falling.

Depending on where you go, you Depending on where you go, you may need to watch out for may need to watch out for wildlife, such as moose wildlife, such as moose protecting their young, or bears.protecting their young, or bears.

Photo from http://redriverpak.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/the-prairie-dog-incident-of-2006/

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Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

I hope you enjoyed this presentation, and that it I hope you enjoyed this presentation, and that it gave you some ideas for how to prepare for a gave you some ideas for how to prepare for a trip to collect wild foods. trip to collect wild foods.

The next presentation in this series will talk The next presentation in this series will talk about how to identify different organisms that about how to identify different organisms that you find during your collection trips.you find during your collection trips.

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The EndThe End

Now back to the chat room for discussion!Now back to the chat room for discussion!