Dinosaurs roamed the earth when sturgeon edged into their permanent niche out of sight of ferocious flesh eaters and docile long-necked giant vegetarians.
And on June 24, Oregon will celebrate the 89th birthday of the state’s most visible and iconic living survivor of the Jurassic Period, nearly 200 million years ago.
Herman the Sturgeon is a star attraction in his special vandal-proof habitat at Bonneville Dam and the Oregon Wildlife Foundation wants to celebrate his latest year around the sun with a birthday party.
The Foundation, formerly the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, raised more than $350,000 to construct the Sturgeon Viewing and Interpretive Center at Bonneville Fish Hatchery, dedicating it in 1998.
A large viewing window offers a close-up look at this prehistoric “monster” and some of his smaller cousins.
His birthday Saturday will kick off at 10 a.m. with short talks about sturgeon, a Herman the Sturgeon mascot wandering around in a costume, plus a coloring station for kids of all ages and self-guided tours of the Sturgeon Interpretive Center.
At noon, cupcakes and treats will be served courtesy of the Foundation’s Spruce Gifts & Provisions store, on site and offering various sturgeon-oriented gifts, along with many other fish and wildlife items.
The hatchery’s salmon ponds can also be viewed.
There are no entry or parking fees at the hatchery, and visitors often drive across the face of the dam to take in the spectacle of thousands of salmon and shad climbing fish ladders daily on their trek into the Northwest’s interior.
The current Herman (yes, there have been more than one) isn’t a giant like some of his 10-12 foot brethren in the Snake River, but is nevertheless impressive at longer than 10 feet and more than 500 pounds.
Herman’s storied career — he’s been iconic since the 1930s — includes an unsolved kidnapping from his former home at Roaring River Fish Hatchery (missing and presumed eaten), a sad death at the Oregon State Fair and physical attacks in a shallow run at the hatchery, where he was exposed daily to the public walking along its edge.
That prompted the Foundation to step in and create a much healthier environment for him and a greater educational opportunity for his adoring public.
“Herman represents perseverance in the face of adversity, an admirable quality no matter what species you are,” said Tim Greseth, the foundation’s executive director.
