Oregon chubs are a small minnow species endemic to Western Oregon. They live in creeks, ponds, flooded marshes and tributaries along the Willamette River basin.
The life of an Oregon chub
Oregon chub grow up to four inches and live as long as nine years.
Spawning begins in spring and occurs through the end of summer. Males must be at least one inch to spawn with females. Females produce hundreds of eggs and lay them in areas with aquatic vegetation to keep them safe.
Oregon chubs feed on invertebrates, mainly insects and tiny crustaceans. They are preyed upon by non-native fish introduced to the chub’s Willamette River basin habitat, including sunfish, largemouth bass, bullheads and western mosquitofish. These invasive species almost wiped out the Oregon chub, with their population once lower than 1,000 fish.
In 1993, the Oregon chub was added to the federal endangered species list due to habitat loss and invasive predators. Thanks to habitat restoration by wildlife biologists and helpful landowners, they have made a full recovery within the last twenty years. In 2015, the Oregon chub was the first-ever fish to be taken off the endangered species list.
Oregon chubs at the zoo
Located in the Nature Exploration Station.
