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Kate Schwartz – The Naturalist

Kate Schwartz – The Naturalist

by Leigh McGaughey | Jun 16, 2022 | Round Goby Indicator, Stories

Kate Schwartz The Naturalist Back to Stories Learn More In collaboration with Story by Dr. Leigh McGaugheyPhotos by Stephany Hildebrand Kate is a young, knowledgeable naturalist, with deep love and curiosity for the natural world. She has translated this passion into...
Abraham Francis – Roles & Responsibilities

Abraham Francis – Roles & Responsibilities

by Leigh McGaughey | Jun 16, 2022 | Round Goby Indicator, Stories

Abraham Francis Roles & Responsibilities Back to Stories In collaboration with Story by Dr. Leigh McGaugheyPhotos by Stephany Hildebrand Abraham Francis is both grounded by Indigenous and scientific knowledge. That’s a powerful combination that serves his...
Mackenzie Petrie – Know the River

Mackenzie Petrie – Know the River

by River Institute | Jun 15, 2022 | Nutrient Indicator, Round Goby Indicator, Stories

Mackenzie Petrie Know the River Back to Stories In collaboration with Story by Stephany HildebrandPhotos by Stephany Hildebrand A young fisherman transmutes his experiences on the river into observations that inform future scientific research. Born and raised on Lake...

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[showmodule id="2088"]

Illustration courtesy of Kate Schwartz

Northern Pike

Northern Pike

Technical Report (Coming Soon)

Illustration courtesy of Kate Schwartz

1. Indigenous perspectives

2. Overview

3. What we’ve learned

4. Implications

5. What can I do?

6. Learn more

7. Related indicators

8. Related community stories

1. Indigenous perspectives

2. Overview

3. What we’ve learned

4. Implications

5. What can I do?

6. Learn more

7. Related indicators

8. Related community stories

Technical Report (Coming Soon)
Infographics (Coming Soon)

Kentsion'shòn:’a

(Fish)


We turn our minds to all the Fish life in the water.
They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Onkwehshòn:’a

(People)


Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.


Now our minds are one.

Ohneka’shòn:’a

(Waters)


We give thanks to all the Waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms – waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.


Now our minds are one.

Ionkhi’nisténha Ohóntsia

(Mother Earth)


We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Otsi’nonwa’shòn:’a

(Insects)


We thank the Insects for continuously keeping our environment clean and balancing the natural equilibrium. So, we turn now to the Insects and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Ohonte’shòn:’a, Okwire’shòn:’a, Kaienthóhsera

(Grasses, Trees, Food Plants)


We acknowledge the Grasses and Plants because they sustain many life forms. We acknowledge the Foods for another year of harvesting and for being a source of sustenance. We also acknowledge the Trees for their fruit, sap, and other uses. So, we turn now to the Plants, Trees, and Foods and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Ononhkwa’shòn:’a

(Medicines)


We continue to acknowledge the Medicines for aiding us to health when needed. They continue to grow freely and can be picked by those with the knowledge. We acknowledge them as, like many other plants and foods, they continue to follow their original instructions by growing every year. So, we turn now to Medicines and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Kontírio

(Animals)


We give thanks to the Animals we find in the surrounding area because when they give up their life for us, they provide us with warmth, food, and many other uses. So, we turn now to the Animals and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Otsi’ten’okòn:’a

(Birds)


As we make our way above ground and towards the sky, we acknowledge the Birds. We continue our gratitude for their beautiful songs that bring healing and joy to life. The leader of the birds is the eagle because he flies closest to the Creator, and sends warnings and messages to the People. So, we turn now to the Birds and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Kaié:ri Nikawerá:ke

(Four Winds)


We continue to send gratitude to the Four Winds. They continue to help replenish the air and change the seasons. So, we turn now to the Winds and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Ionkhihsothokòn:’a Ratiwè:ras

(Our Grandfathers the Thunderers)


Always coming from the west, we thank the Thunderers, our Grandfathers. We thank them for replenishing the earth by bringing with them waters. We also thank them for keeping monstrous beings underground through their thunder and lightning. So, we turn now to the Thunder Beings and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Shonkwahtsì:’a Enkiehkehnéhka Karáhkwa

(Our Elder Brother the Sun)


Next we acknowledge the Brother Sun for continuously rising from the east and setting in the west, bringing light to each day. In doing so, we give thanks to the Sun for providing us with warmth. So, we turn now to Brother Sun and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Ionkhihsótha Ahshonthenhnéhkha Karáhkwa

(Grandmother Moon)


We also thank the Grandmother Moon who lights every night sky with her presence. Just like she leads the ocean tides, she leads the women and helps guide the arrival of children to earth. So, we turn now to Grandmother Moon and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Otsistokwa’shòn:’a

(Stars)


Close to the moon, we acknowledge the Stars for sparkling in the sky with beauty and guiding us home when we are travelling at night. So, we turn now to the Stars and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Kaié:ri Niionkwè:take

(Four Protectors)


Through the ages, they have sent messages from the Creator for us to continue our original instructions. When we forgot our ways and began to live in dissonance, the Four Protectors gave us the four ceremonies to remind us how to live in harmony again. They help guide us to persevere with caring for ourselves and what the Creator has given to us. So, we turn now to the Four Protectors and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Takia’tíson

(Creator)


Lastly, we send gratitude to the Creator for all of his gifts of creation. We send gratitude because he gave us everything to lead a good life and sustain ourselves. He has given us original instructions to follow to ensure everything in creation continues as it should, and in doing so, we are grateful for the love and reciprocity that it created between people and creation. So, we turn now to the Creator and send our greetings and thanks.


Now our minds are one.

Illustrations by Victoria Ransom. See all HERE

Northern pike in a nursery habitat in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Northern pike in a nursery habitat in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Overview

You may know that northern pike are found in the St. Lawrence River, but did you know they are found across most of the Northern Hemisphere? Northern pike are top predators and therefore help balance populations of other fish and wildlife across their range. In the river, they are sought after by anglers for the thrill of the catch. Northern pike can also be a very tasty fish when taken from cold water and prepared by a skilled filleter.

Northern pike are sensitive to changes in their environment like shifts in wetland habitat and water temperatures. This sensitivity makes them good indicators of ecosystem health. With all the changes we have seen to the river driven by settler colonialism, what has this meant for the northern pike? Back in the 1940s and 1950s, community members recall seeing northern pike swimming up many of the farm creeks connected to the river after the spring melt. Have you noticed that there are fewer pike now? The Great River Rapport team set out to find the answers! Below is a summary of key findings from the assessment.

The northern pike’s native range.

Manhole cover in Minnesota featuring northern pike. Photo by Kate Burke/FLICKR.

Northern pike caught on a fishing hook. Photo by Jerry Burke/FLICKR.

Young-of-the-year northern pike in nursery habitat. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Moses Saunders Power Dam under construction. Photo from the Archives of Ontario.

The northern pike’s native range.

Manhole cover in Minnesota featuring northern pike. Photo by Kate Burke/FLICKR.

Northern pike caught on a fishing hook. Photo by Jerry Burke/FLICKR.

Young-of-the-year northern pike in nursery habitat. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Moses Saunders Power Dam under construction. Photo from the Archives of Ontario.

What We’ve Learned

  1. Northern pike populations have declined

Looking at overall trends in the river, we found that northern pike populations have declined. Their populations are now at historic lows. Across the Upper St. Lawrence River, it is likely that populations have been declining over the last century. These declines are linked to changes in spawning behaviour, which have led to fewer surviving young-of-the-year (less than 1 year old) northern pike.

Northern pike young-of-the-year. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Adult northern pike swimming through vegetation. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Average northern pike caught over a standardized period of time (catch per unit effort, CPUE) in annual monitoring programs in the Thousand Islands (orange), Lake St. Lawrence (yellow), and Lake St. Francis (green). Graph adapted from OMNRF, NYSDEC and MFFP.

Average northern pike caught over a standardized period of time (catch per unit effort, CPUE) in annual monitoring programs in the Thousand Islands (orange), Lake St. Lawrence (yellow), and Lake St. Francis (green). Graph adapted from OMNRF, NYSDEC and MFFP.

Young-of-the-year northern pike in a fish viewer. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Northern pike young-of-the-year. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Adult northern pike swimming through vegetation. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Average northern pike caught over a standardized period of time (catch per unit effort, CPUE) in annual monitoring programs in the Thousand Islands (orange), Lake St. Lawrence (yellow), and Lake St. Francis (green). Graph adapted from OMNRF, NYSDEC and MFFP.

Average northern pike caught over a standardized period of time (catch per unit effort, CPUE) in annual monitoring programs in the Thousand Islands (orange), Lake St. Lawrence (yellow), and Lake St. Francis (green). Graph adapted from OMNRF, NYSDEC and MFFP.

Young-of-the-year northern pike in a fish viewer. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

  1. Spawning habitat has been lost

Northern pike spawn in the spring and seek out sedge meadows to lay their eggs. Sedge meadows are wetlands along shorelines that are flooded in the spring and have lots of grasses and leafy plants. Northern pike swim over the plants to lay their eggs. The eggs stick to the plants, which help provide the oxygen they need to develop. After the eggs hatch, young northern pike tend to stay in shallow vegetated areas that provide food and shelter.

A decline in suitable spawning habitat in tributaries and shallow nearshore areas has driven some northern pike to lay eggs in offshore deepwater habitats. Compared to tributaries and shallow nearshore areas, the northern pike eggs laid in deep waters are less likely to hatch and survive their first year.

Picture of a northern pike from above the water. Photo by Stuart Bartlett.

Example of a sedge meadow habitat from Prince Edward County. Photo by Dave Diangelo.

Northern pike prefer to spawn in flooded sedge meadow habitats. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Northern pike prefer to spawn in flooded sedge meadow habitats. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Two northern pike. Photo by Viktor Vrbovsky/Engbretson Underwater Photography.

Different habitats result in different degrees of northern pike spawning success – with tributary as the most ideal habitat, then nearshore, and finally deep water as the least desirable. Image by Anthony Wallace.

Picture of a northern pike from above the water. Photo by Stuart Bartlett.

Example of a sedge meadow habitat from Prince Edward County. Photo by Dave Diangelo.

Northern pike prefer to spawn in flooded sedge meadow habitats. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Northern pike prefer to spawn in flooded sedge meadow habitats. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Two northern pike. Photo by Viktor Vrbovsky/Engbretson Underwater Photography.

Different habitats result in different degrees of northern pike spawning success – with tributary as the most ideal habitat, then nearshore, and finally deep water as the least desirable. Image by Anthony Wallace.

  1. Cattails have invaded
    northern pike spawning habitat

One important reason for the decline in northern pike spawning habitat is the spread of cattails into sedge meadows. The start of this spread of cattails dates back to the late 1800s. At this time, there was an increase in deforestation and agricultural activity along the river. Land use changes and alterations to the river have benefitted cattails and helped them expand into sedge meadows.

More recently, another plant, invasive phragmites, has also been expanding into sedge meadows and other wetland areas. Because cattails and invasive phragmites grow in tall, dense stands, female northern pike cannot swim over these plants to lay their eggs. As a result, northern pike avoid spawning in areas with lots of cattails and phragmites.

Cattails (Typha sp.). Photo by Anthony Wallace.

Mill machinery and equipment, Glengarry, Ontario – taken between 1895-1910. Photo from Archives of Ontario’s Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums (GLAM).

Wetland cover change between 1959 and 2001, with green showing sedge meadow habitat and red showing cattail cover. Adapted from Wilcox et al. 2008 and illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Large stands of invasive phragmites. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

When cattails and invasive phragmites grow in tall, dense stands, female northern pike cannot swim over these plants to lay their eggs. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Northern pike spawn in deeper waters when they can’t access other nearshore spawning areas. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Cattails (Typha sp.). Photo by Anthony Wallace.

Mill machinery and equipment, Glengarry, Ontario – taken between 1895-1910. Photo from Archives of Ontario’s Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums (GLAM).

Wetland cover change between 1959 and 2001, with green showing sedge meadow habitat and red showing cattail cover. Adapted from Wilcox et al. 2008 and illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Large stands of invasive phragmites. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

When cattails and invasive phragmites grow in tall, dense stands, female northern pike cannot swim over these plants to lay their eggs. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Northern pike spawn in deeper waters when they can’t access other nearshore spawning areas. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

  1. Changes in water levels
    impact spawning habitat

Spring floods are needed to create sedge meadows, the type of wetland that northern pike prefer for spawning. In the 1950s, water levels and flooding patterns in the river were dramatically altered by the construction of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam. The construction of the dam changed the shape of the river, raising water levels and permanently flooding some lands along the shores.

Water levels upstream of the dam became more stable with less year-to-year variation.

Water levels downstream of the dam have increased and become more stable. The timing of seasonal water level patterns has also shifted. Post-dam construction, the lowest seasonal water levels correspond with the start of northern pike spawning in April.

As a result, many areas that used to have sedge meadows no longer flood in the spring.  Other areas are now permanently underwater. The more stable water levels also benefit cattails and phragmites, helping these species further expand into sedge meadows. Altogether, these changes have reduced the availability of sedge meadow habitat for northern pike to spawn in.

The Raisin River in the spring. Photo by deanspic.

The construction site of the Moses-Saunders hydroelectric dam (1957). Photo from the Archives of Ontario Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums (GLAM).

Seasonal water levels upstream of the dam, with blue representing pre-dam construction and yellow representing post-dam construction. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada[MW4.1] (2021) Brockville station.

Seasonal water levels downstream of the dam, with blue representing pre-dam construction and yellow representing post-dam construction. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada[MW5.1] (2021) Summerstown station.

The St. Lawrence River (from above) showing the river boundary before (light blue) and after (dark blue) the construction of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam (orange). Image by Anthony Wallace.

A sedge meadow in Ingleside. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

The Raisin River in the spring. Photo by deanspic.

The construction site of the Moses-Saunders hydroelectric dam (1957). Photo from the Archives of Ontario Galleries Libraries Archives and Museums (GLAM).

Seasonal water levels upstream of the dam, with blue representing pre-dam construction and yellow representing post-dam construction. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada[MW4.1] (2021) Brockville station.

Seasonal water levels downstream of the dam, with blue representing pre-dam construction and yellow representing post-dam construction. Data from Environment and Climate Change Canada[MW5.1] (2021) Summerstown station.

The St. Lawrence River (from above) showing the river boundary before (light blue) and after (dark blue) the construction of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam (orange). Image by Anthony Wallace.

A sedge meadow in Ingleside. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

  1. Climate Change

Northern pike do best in cool, well-oxygenated waters. Climate change has led to warming water temperatures, which pose a high risk to the species. In the river, water temperatures have increased by at least 1.3oC since the 1970s. These higher temperatures reduce oxygen levels, impacting the ability of northern pike to successfully grow and reproduce.

Northern pike depend on regular spring flooding for successful reproduction. In the river, climate change is expected to bring more rain and snowmelt leading to higher average water levels. Due to the role of dams in controlling water levels, some areas of the river will expect to see more variation than others. For example, areas upstream of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam will likely experience more variation than downstream of the dam in Lake St. Francis.  High spring floods can temporarily create more spawning grounds, which increases reproduction.

An incoming storm. Kingston, ON. Photo by Jaykumar Bherwani.

A great blue heron in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Anthony Wallace.

Water temperature is predicted to increase in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Stormy day on the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Matthew Windle.

Flooding increases the spawning habitat for northern pike. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

An incoming storm. Kingston, ON. Photo by Jaykumar Bherwani.

A great blue heron in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Anthony Wallace.

Water temperature is predicted to increase in the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Stephany Hildebrand.

Stormy day on the St. Lawrence River. Photo by Matthew Windle.

Flooding increases the spawning habitat for northern pike. Illustration by Anthony Wallace.

Implications

Northern pike populations in the river are at an all-time low. As we have seen, some of the most important reasons for this decline have to do with introduced species, the regulation of water levels, and climate change. Additional factors that can impact pike populations in the river include changing predator-prey relations, nutrient levels, and diseases.

Northern pike are important top predators and trophy fish for recreational fisheries. The declining northern pike populations in the river have ecological, social, and economic impacts on the region.

There are a variety of management actions that we could take to address threats to northern pike.

First, we can protect and restore sedge meadows. One way to do this is to manage and prevent the further spread of cattails and phragmites.

Second, we can limit the negative impacts of water level regulation. In 2017, a new, more natural, water level management plan for the river was put in place. Just after its launch, however, unexpected flooding led to a review of the plan. To support northern pike conservation, the revised plan needs to continue to prioritize spawning habitat restoration, while also accounting for the effects of climate change.

Third, we can protect the northern pike spawning season in the river. Northern pike in the St. Lawrence River have an unusually long spawning season and this should be considered in the management of recreational activities in the river.

What can I do?

Water Rangers

You can monitor water quality in your area with Water Rangers monitoring kits. Water quality monitoring can contribute to future research on water quality in the St. Lawrence River.

www.waterrangers.com

Watersheds Canada

Watershed Canada’s Love your Lake is a shoreline evaluation program which works with waterfront landowners to recommend actions for improving watershed health.

www.watersheds.ca/our-work/

MyCatch Angler's Atlas

The next time you’re out fishing, why not take part in citizen science by using the MyCatch app to identify and track your catch? This app can be used recreationally or in angling tournaments, and the data collected can later be used to help protect these fish species!

www.anglersatlas.com/

Learn More

Thousand Islands Biological Station

Dr. John Farrell and the research group at TIBS does lots of research on Northern Pike populations, including looking at population genetics, spawning ecology and impacts of human activity.

https://www.esf.edu/tibs/northern-pike.php

Ontario Invading Species Awareness Program

Water Rangers produced the 2025 Canada Watershed Reports, you can explore the report to see how the St. Lawrence River scored for water quality, water flow, invertebrates and fish.

https://watershedreports.ca/watershed/flowing-east-atlantic-ocean/02-st-lawrence/02m-upper-st-lawrence/

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Ontario management strategies to maintain healthy Northern Pike populations. Provides insights into how we can manage the species in other inland freshwater habitats.

https://www.ontario.ca/document/fisheries-management-plan-fisheries-management-zone-18/northern-pike-management-strategy

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

Interesting facts about Northern Pike and their predatory behaviours with some tips on how to prepare this fish to eat. 

https://www.fws.gov/story/northern-pike

Blue Fish Radio

A podcast that features subjects and people of special interest to the future of fish and fishing. Includes interviews with lead researchers and local experts in the field of fish biology, aquatic habitat, and sustainable fishing.

https://bluefishcanada.ca/resources/blue-fish-radio/

Related Indicators

Wetland Cover

Coming Soon

Typha/Phragmites

coming soon

Water Levels

coming soon

Water Temperature

coming soon

Fish Diversity

coming soon

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Wetland Cover

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Typha/Phragmites

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Water Levels

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Water Temperature

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Fish Diversity

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Kate Schwartz – The Naturalist

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Abraham Francis – Roles & Responsibilities

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Mackenzie Petrie – Know the River

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