Fishing on the Don - fishing methods, best places for fishing on the Don River

General information

Don River
The Don River (ancient name Tanais) is one of the largest rivers in the European part of Russia. Only the Volga and Ural are larger. We can say that this is a Cossack river, since the Don Cossacks began to emerge here at the beginning of the 15th century. The bank of the Don River is uneven: the right bank is steep and steep, while the left bank is much flatter. The length is 1950 km. The riverbed is winding and difficult for ships to navigate. There are areas where the depth is very shallow.

Drainage basin area:

422,000 sq.
km. Average flow at the mouth:
935 m3/sec.
Length of the shipping section:
1590 km.
The Don is navigable from Voronezh to its mouth. Length of the Volga-Don Canal:
101 km.
Main ports:
Rostov-on-Don, Liski, Kalach-on-Don, Azov, Volgodonsk.
Tributaries of the river:
the total number of tributaries is 4200. The main ones are: Khoper (the largest left tributary of the Don), Krasivaya Mecha, Nepryadva, Sosna, Voronezh, Seversky Donets.
Where it flows:
The Don River originates near the city of Novomoskovsk.
Its source, the Urvanka stream, is located in the north of the Central Russian Upland. The height above sea level is 180 m. From here the Don continues its flow to the south through the territory of Russia until it flows into the Sea of Azov. Below Rostov-on-Don, the river mouth forms a delta with an area of 340 km. square. Here the river bed is divided into numerous channels and branches. Locals call them girla. Among them, the most significant are: Kalancha and Kuterma, Dead Donets. Rostov-on-Don is the main port and the largest city on the banks of the river. It is also called the “Southern Capital of Russia” and the “Gateway of the Caucasus”. Method of feeding:
70% of the water comes from snowmelt, the rest comes mainly from precipitation and groundwater.
Freezing:
In winter, the Don is covered with an ice crust; the water freezes from late November to early December, and lasts until the end of March.
Thus, on average, the river is under ice for about 140 days. In spring, the water level rises noticeably. High banks serve as good natural protection against floods. Biological resources, inhabitants:
It is nominally believed that 70 species of fish are found in the Don River.
But due to environmental problems (garbage, oil spills, blue-green algae), many of them are already difficult to find. The most common species are pike, crucian carp, bream, burbot, bunting, rudd, and bleak. Fishing on the Don gives a larger catch if you fish in the lower reaches of the river, as they are especially rich in fish. Several reservoirs were built on the river:
Tsimlyanskoye and Voronezh.

An interesting feature of the Don is its banks. The left bank is low-lying, flat, and the right bank is steep, its maximum height is 230 m. The number of fish species reaches about 100. These are mainly small and medium-sized specimens - roach, perch, rudd, catfish, bream, pike and other freshwater inhabitants water The main representatives are tench, sterlet, chub, crucian carp, catfish, pike and tench. Sturgeon, beluga, herring and stellate sturgeon come here to spawn. The main commercial species include carp, carp, pike perch, and sturgeon species.

The Don River is located on the territory of the Central Russian Upland, in its northern part. The Don flows through several regions - Lipetsk, Voronezh, Rostov and is considered one of the largest rivers in the European part of Russia. The Don originates in the Shatsky reservoir in the Tula region. The mouth and delta of the Don is the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov. The length of the river is 1870 km, and the basin area covers 422,000 square meters. km.

The nature of the Don is picturesque and unique; along its banks there are a large number of natural monuments - the Dolgovsky landscape reserve, Annina Mountain, Plyushchansky forest. Unfortunately, the intensive development of the Don territory did not pass without a trace. Recently, the number of flora and fauna of the river has sharply decreased. Today, phosphates, petroleum products, and various forms of nitrogen and iron are observed in the water of the Don.

Along the banks of the river there are endless meadows, dense forests, and floodplain swamps. Directly along the Don, horsetail, reed, sedge, cinquefoil are common, and the trees include willow, birch, sticky alder, buckthorn, and willow. Here you can even find apple and pear trees, blackberries, rose hips and thorns. A variety of amphibians and reptiles are represented by frogs, fire-bellied toads, newts, marsh turtles and grass snakes.

Among the mammals you can find all kinds of rodents, otters and minks, ferrets and a large number of bats. There are few birds preserved in these places; the remaining ones include ducks, waders, warblers and crows; herons and storks are very rare.

The river is divided into 3 parts. These are the upper reaches, the middle and the lower ones. The upper course is considered from the source to the confluence of the Tikhaya Sosna River. The valley in these places is narrow, and the riverbed is quite winding and has rifts. The main tributaries are the rivers: Krasivaya Mechta, Voronezh, Sosna and Nepryadva. In the middle reaches the valley is wide. The river is fed by such tributaries as Bityug, Chernaya Kalitva, Ilovlya, Bogucharka.

The middle section ends near the city of Kalach-on-Don next to the Tsimlyansk Reservoir. It was formed in 1952 as a result of the construction of the Tsimlyanskaya hydroelectric power station. Thanks to the reservoir, the famous Volga-Don Canal was built.

The lower reaches begin at Kalach-on-Don and end at the mouth. This section includes the reservoir itself and the river below the dam, where the width of the valley reaches 25 km. The maximum depth in these places is 15 meters. The main tributaries in the lower reaches are the Sal, Seversky Donets and Manych. The largest tributaries are: Seversky Donets, Medveditsa and Khoper. The river delta begins below Rostov-on-Don. Its area is 340 square meters. km. It is notable for its numerous channels and branches. The Don flows into the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov.

Fishing on the Don River

From a nominal point of view, Don fish is defined by 70 species, but due to the fact that the environmental situation is constantly deteriorating, fish such as beluga, sterlet and sturgeon have become rare. In addition, the catfish population is declining, and now catching five kilograms of specimens is considered fishing luck. Most often in the waters of the river you can find pike, crucian carp, burbot, rudd, roach, pike perch, carp, sabrefish and bream. Moreover, most of the fish are found in the lower reaches.

Also popular is catching the bug-eyed goby, which can be caught with almost any tackle. When catching this fish, it is best to use a float rod or bottom tackle. If fishing is from the bottom, then you can use a worm or the meat of the same bull as bait. In the lower reaches, preference is given to crucian carp, bleak, sandstone and shirman. Typically, bleak is caught on a fishing line about one tenth of a millimeter thick, and a 18-22 number hook is also used. The optimal bait in this case is a fly larva (maggot).

Due to the fact that the number of predatory fish on the Lower Don has decreased, silver crucian carp began to multiply greatly. Therefore, its fishing is quite promising in these places. In addition, fishing on the Don brings large catches of ram, which is good for worms, maggots, bloodworms, bread and porridge. Fishing gear used is fishing rods up to seven meters long. When fishing for a ram, you need to know that this fish is very active, so be prepared for a fight. Using a donk or long-casting tackle, you can please yourself with bream, silver bream or carp.

If you prefer fly fishing, then you may be interested in fish such as asp, ide, herring and chub. Although it should be noted that there are very few chub directly in the river and to a greater extent they are found in bays and tributaries. The most valuable catches include eels and bluefish. As for perch, it is found throughout the river in sufficient quantities, which cannot be said about pike. Today, large pike trophies are very rare and mostly only pike fish are caught, which are caught using small lures such as spinners and spoons.

Fishing on the upper Don

Don River
In the upper reaches of the Don, one of the popular fishing spots is the Sholokhovsky district. In this section of the river there are many places both for catching white fish (places with weak currents) and feeding grounds for predators (rifts, areas of fast current). Among those who like to fish for peaceful fish, float rods and feeders are popular, but predator hunters prefer spinning fishing.

In July and August, a lot of fishermen come here, since fishing in these months in many reservoirs is going through hard times, but in the upper reaches of the Don, fish activity continues to delight anglers. The choice of bait and bait is significantly influenced by the abundance of small silver bream and rudd at this time of year, which do not allow fishing with soft bait and limit the angler in the choice of bait.

For catching larger white fish on a feeder, corn, boilies, pearl barley and steamed grains are ideal baits. Expected catch: crucian carp, carp, bream and sometimes carp. When hunting for large bream, good results are obtained with specialized baits that are used in the same place for several days. Worms and maggots are often used as bait for bream. In this case, plant baits should be used selectively. In warm summer water, fishing for bream on the Don is carried out using specialized bait, since home-made bait begins to wander in it and frighten this very cautious fish.

Considering the huge number of riffles in the upper reaches of the Don, fly fishermen are frequent guests of these places. Their main prey is chub. After the spring months of abundant food (insect emergence), the chub actively reacts to floating flies. Predator hunters in this part of the Don give preference to pike perch. There are many hunting grounds for this fanged predator on the dumps and rifts. Both oscillating and rotating spoons are suitable as bait, but the main preference is given to silicone and foam rubber baits. Floating wobblers are used when floating bait downstream from a boat.

Fishing in the upper reaches of the Don in summer means not only successful catches and adrenaline, but also the purity of pine forests and the coolness of natural springs. It is difficult to find a better escape from city worries in the vastness of our homeland.

Fishing on the middle Don

The most visited fishing ground in the middle part of the Don is the Tsimlyanskoye Reservoir. Such a pilgrimage to this place is explained not only by convenient access roads and a large number of convenient places for fishing, but also by the fairly active behavior of fish in the area. In the upper reaches of the reservoir, the width of the Don reaches 6 km, and in its lower part it is over 20 km. The total area of the reservoir is about 2700 m2. There really is room to roam here both by boat and from the shore.

Fishing bases on the Don are located almost along the entire riverbed. In the upper reaches of the reservoir, in the area of the village of Korotoyak and at the confluence of the Don Khoper and Medveditsa, bases operate throughout the year. Both summer and winter fishing are actively practiced here. Along the dam of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir there are many guest houses where you can successfully organize wild fishing on the Don. Everyone can choose an option according to their money and their preferences. According to statistics, the Tsimlyanskoye Reservoir is the most productive in Russia.

The Middle Don is popular with carp hunters in the summer months. Don carp feeds actively from May to September in the morning and evening hours. Favorite gear for catching carp are donks and fishing rods. The natives of these places claim that the most catchy bait for carp is millet porridge with flour, but he also does not disdain peas, corn, steamed grains and even bread. After the connection of the Don with the Volga, a lot of Volga carp appeared in the middle part of the river. It is slightly lighter than the native Donskoy and is significantly inferior to it in size (1.5 - 3 kg), but is more actively caught throughout the summer. Also in the summer months, bream, silver bream and roach are actively caught on Tsimla. Chub fishing is often practiced in fly fishing on this reservoir. Regular corn is used as bait. Preference is given to pre-feeding and vegetable baits.

The choice of predators in the middle part of the Don is also richer than at its top. Often, in addition to the ubiquitous pike perch, you come across pike, perch and even decent-sized catfish here. Fishing on the Don with a spinning rod in its middle part allows you to try out all the methods and different fishing options. Here there is an abundance of both deep dumps (up to 15 meters) and shallow snags (from 3 to 5 meters), which are feeding grounds for the predator. The choice of bait is also very varied. They mainly depend on the fishing location, but preference is still given to silicone baits. The most popular colors are light green, yellow, green and cola, as well as their combinations. On white foam rubber, instead of the expected pike perch or pike, you often come across decent-sized (up to 5 kg) catfish. Fishing for catfish on the Don is most often carried out in deep holes, and frogs or mice are used as bait. At night, sometimes you can get trophy specimens using such tackle.

Fishing in the lower reaches of the Don

One of the most popular places among fishermen in the Rostov region is the Don section in the Rogozhkino area. The popularity of this area among fishermen in Rostov-on-Don is explained by the abundance of places for fishing, both for predators and peaceful fish, as well as the proximity of this place to the city. On summer weekends on the banks of the Don in this area it is very difficult to find a free place.

In addition to the fish traditional for the Don lands, eels are often well caught in the lower reaches, as well as anadromous fishermen and Azov herring. The main catch of fly fishermen in this area of the river is asp, but saberfish and ide do not disdain a light fly. Goby fishing is quite exotic in this area. Bullheads can be caught here using almost any gear and any bait. In appearance it is a little ugly, but its taste does not suffer, so often in the lower reaches of the Don you can meet novice fishermen who hunt specifically for goby.

What kind of fish is found in the Don

The fish will immediately feel on the hook if you smear it with thick...

It is not difficult to guess that the Don River is home to many fish of various species, since it is one of the largest in the country.

It is the dream of many fishermen to go fishing on this river, because here you can easily catch fish such as: silver carp, bream, burbot, pike, perch, ruffe, pike perch, and that’s not all.

There are about 100 different species of river fish in the Don River. It is best caught here in autumn and spring.

In the summer it is very hot, so it is best to fish in the late evening or early morning, when the fish are actively moving in search of prey.

Let's look at some types of fish from the Don River, which are most often encountered during fishing.

Pike . It bites especially well in the fall; usually, it is caught with a spinning rod on a spoon or using a jig for small live bait (crucian carp, roach, gudgeon).

In winter, this predator becomes less active than in summer, but it is still possible to catch it at this time of year, you just need to choose a catchable place for fishing.

Carp is quite common on the Don; it bites best on boiled pearl barley, corn or worms.

Bream is a freshwater fish that can be caught all year round, even in winter, but during this period it is best to catch it with a jig.

Catfish is a widespread predator on the Don River; it is mainly caught using quok. In addition, there is a very wide variety of baits for this fish.

Burbot . A worm (preferably a dung worm) is very suitable as a catchable bait. Autumn is the best time to catch this fish.

It would take a very long time to list all the variety of Don fish, because this mighty river is very large, so not only each fish has its own fishing characteristics, but also for each period of the year.

For example, in the autumn, predatory fish, such as pike, pike perch, perch, ruffe, catfish, etc., become significantly more active. For avid fishermen, this is the time to go fishing.

In winter, you can easily catch bream, perch, and goby, but you need to be very careful in winter, because the water on the river does not always freeze well enough, despite severe frosts.

Winter fishing will please amateur fishermen best in the Voronezh region than in the Rostov region, since the Don there is much narrower (about 25 meters), the wind is also not so strong, and the fish are found mostly peaceful.

In the summer, you can find absolutely any fish that is found on this river; you just need to select the appropriate, most catchable bait for a certain type of fish.

In each period of the year, it is imperative to use bait (and in sufficient quantities), which can be anything (pearl barley or wheat, boiled potatoes, macadamia, crushed fried seeds, etc.).

In general, in order to get a good catch, you must always select the most effective baits and lures that will bring the fisherman on the Don River an excellent catch and an unforgettable fishing experience.

The secret to a good catch has been revealed, just pour 1/4 of a slice into the water...

Seasonal fishing

For those who are serious about real fishing on the Don reservoirs, Russian recreation centers, which know everything about fishing, offer a special fishing calendar, with the help of which anglers can choose the appropriate period for their holiday on the Don:

January is the best month of the year for fishing for bream using jigs and fishing gear with feeders. Pike perch is excellently caught using lures and balancers. In warm-water bays, red-finned perch bite well on wobblers and spinning rods with live bait, and large roach take excellently on amphipod jig, which is a very delicate bait;
February - ice fishing is characterized by a slight weakening of the bite. Small roach, perches and bream are caught using standing jigs near the shore. From the middle of the month, large pike begin to take baits and spoons;
March - ice spinning fishing on oxbow lakes, lakes and picturesque bays;
April, May - due to the low level of flood waters, pike perch, perch and pike can be fished using spinning gear. Chekhon, bream, silver bream and roach are well caught on donkeys and float rods;
From June to the end of August - catfish, pike perch, chub, asp, pike and striped perch are taken on spinning rods. For float gear - roach, bream, silver bream;
From September to the end of November, large pike and pike-perch are excellently caught using spinning tackle and live bait rods;
December is characterized by the formation of the first ice and the fishing of pike perch, bream, pike, roach and perch.

Spring fishing

Fishing on the Don
In spring, fish actively swim along the Don to where they spawn. At this time, any fish living in the specified river is caught. The fishing catch includes the mentioned species, sturgeon, asp and pike perch. Spring fishing on the Don brings more excitement and catch than ever. The fish gain weight before spawning and eat whatever the bait is made from. Those who want to catch fish moisten bread, make gruel and much more.

Fishing rules for the Azov-Black Sea fishery basin provide for the following restrictions:

fishing bans in some places;
restrictions on the use of gear;
minimum sizes of fish caught;
fishing bans at certain times of the day;
other restrictions.

Therefore, the optimal time for spring fishing is considered to be the second half of March. The ice has already melted, the fish are becoming more active, and the fishermen are free to choose their actions. For example, bream bites well. To add such a river inhabitant to the catch, fishermen catch it with a feeder or on a donk. Some people prefer donka, as the small fish eat the bait very quickly.

Bream is found in such places, of which there are many on or near the Don:

small rivers;
shallow channels;
extensive shoals near the islands;
extensive shallows off the coast.

Worms are mainly used as bait. Worms should be put on the hook, as many as will fit, there is no need to skimp. If, in addition to bream, you want to catch weasel or small fish, then use maggots. The weight of the load for the donkey depends on the thickness of the fishing line, the strength of the current and the casting distance. Leashes 8-12 cm long are attached 10-15 cm above the load. Then the same ones are added, placing them 20-30 cm above the first ones.

Summer fishing

Hot summer weather negatively affects the catch, the fish behave sluggishly and you need to know where they are biting. There are areas where it can be caught even in the hottest times. On the Upper Don there is good fishing in the Sholokhov region. White fish is found in sections of the river where the current is weak, and the predator loves riffles and places with fast water. If a fisherman goes for small fish, he takes a float rod. and if he is going for a predator, he prepares a spinning rod.

These places are especially popular in July and August. when the bite in other areas stops. When choosing bait this season, you need to take into account the abundance of silver bream, small bream and rudd, which make fishing with small baits and the use of bait difficult. During these months, large white fish are successfully caught here using feeder tackle with corn and pearl barley baits. Fishing for steamed grains produces similar results. Usually you come across crucian carp, carp, and bream.

On the riffles, many anglers use fly fishing to catch chub. It is lured with spoons, silicone or paralon baits.

Winter fishing

In winter, fishing on the Don begins with the first ice. As soon as it covers the water, predators begin to hunt for the fry. Pike, perch and pike perch are caught. In the water, flocks of gobies are often found in deep holes. They feed on moths and worms. Gobies live at the bottom all winter and peck from there for pieces of fish. They catch roach using standing jigs.

Winter fishing in the region has the following features:

the use of a heavy jig for catching blue bream, bream and pike perch at the confluence of the Khoper River with the Don;
active fishing for perch, as well as bream and pike in the reservoir;
The biggest catch is at the beginning of the ice cover and before it melts. In a number of places, record results are achieved from approximately January 20 to February 10;
If a school of pike perch is spotted, then it is advisable to fish with a balance beam. The fact is that pike perch scares away other fish that attack the jig, and a balancer is more suitable for it than a jig;
near river beds the ice is weak and it is often windy;
Ice fishing spots are very popular and it is better to arrive early in the morning.

Autumn fishing

As the water gets colder, large pike become more active in all parts of the Don. Pike fishing on the Don at this time is the most popular among predator hunters. A variety of spinners, preferably yellow, are used as bait. The main food source of the toothed predator at this time is small sabrefish and roach, so fishing with live bait in the fall is very popular. For example, Don fishermen of the Volgograd region actively practice fishing for pike and pike perch on a feeder in the autumn. Either small fish or live bait is used as bait.

But, as throughout the year, the most active predator is pike perch. Autumn fishing for pike perch on the Don lasts until the freeze-up. Silicone and foam baits give good catches at this time. Among the peaceful fish in the autumn, crucian carp, buffalo and bream actively feed. In the lower reaches you can often find small fish, and in the upper reaches there are roaches. Carp and carp usually bite a little more at the beginning of autumn, and as the weather gets colder, their activity dies down.

A peculiarity of autumn fishing for peaceful fish is that it is necessary to adjust the smell of bait; sweet smells are replaced by sharper ones (dill, anise, etc.). Some fishermen use the smell of chocolate to feed bream. Natural baits are more commonly used - worms, maggots, bloodworms. Don feeder fishing gives the best results for bream in the autumn. Bolognese and match fishing rods are more often used for catching sabrefish and roach.

The most impressive results in terms of catches are shown by fishing on the Don in November. Before hibernation, both large predators and cyprinids become active. On warm November days, it is not uncommon to catch large silver carp or carp using a jig with silicone. Pike perch, pike, catfish, chub and asp also actively feed.

Features of fishing on the Don by fishing season

Fishing is divided according to fishing seasons:

Summer fishing. Fishing on the Don in summer will not disappoint you with the amount of catch you catch, because even in the heat there is an excellent bite here. You can dig up mayflies right on the spot and fish with them; Don fish bite well on this type of bait. Other insects, such as bloodworms, mole crickets, and worms, are also suitable. You definitely won’t leave fishing empty-handed.
Autumn fishing. It is in the fall that pike hunters become more active, which is enough on the Don to satisfy the most “brutal appetites.” Predatory pike perch are just as good at catching as pike; both of these species bite on live bait and small fish. In autumn you can catch bream, buffalo, carp, fish and even carp. Of course, by November, before hibernation, the fish are actively hooked, which is what experienced fishermen take advantage of. By November, in addition to pike and pike perch, you can increasingly find predators such as silver carp, catfish, and asp on the hook.
Winter fishing. As soon as the first ice begins to catch bream, roach, perch, pike and pike perch. Usually good catches can be found in deep places with current. Most often, bloodworms are used as bait for predators. At night you can catch roach using a jig. You can organize a good catch of pike perch on the balancer, but if a predator comes into view, you can forget about the peaceful fish, it blurs. Fishing on the Don lasts all winter. Experienced and knowledgeable fishermen do not deny themselves the pleasure throughout the three months of frost. However, the first and last ice are considered the most fishy.
Spring fishing. Already at the beginning of spring, after the last ice on the Don, asp and crucian carp begin to bite. As in other months, the predator is doing well. At the same time, you can treat yourself to bream, roach, herring or crucian carp. At this time of year, the fish are quite large in size and weigh more than one kilogram. It is worth remembering that from April to June you can only catch fish from the coastline, but it won’t hurt to have fun; fishing is done with a spinning rod. When using a worm and maggot, it is easy to “pull” bream or asp.

Fishing on the Don will be intense and interesting at all times of the year, it all depends on the preferences of the fisherman and his dexterity and skills.

Fishing rules

Fishing on the Don
Fishing on the Don is regulated by the Fishing Rules for the Azov-Black Sea fishery basin. Anglers planning to go spring fishing on the Don should know that due to the spawning ban on the Don River, fishing is prohibited during certain periods.

Fishing ban on the Don:

from May 1 to June 1, a ban is introduced on recreational and sport fishing in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir: from the dam to the railway bridge at x. Spoons;
from April 25 to June 1 - in the Don River: from the railway bridge at x. Spoons in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir to the administrative border of the village of Trekhostrovskaya, with the exception of catching aquatic biological resources with one float or bottom fishing rod with one hook per fisherman, spinning from the shore without the use of all types of watercraft;
Crayfish fishing is also prohibited from January 1 to September 15.

Regardless of size, fishing on the Don for sterlet, carp, and shemai is prohibited; the amount of damage for these species is calculated per head caught. For each female fish with caviar and illegal fishing in specially protected natural areas, the damage is calculated at twice the rate.

Fishing on the Don is prohibited all year round:

in lock channels;
at a distance of less than 500 m near dams, bridges, ferry crossings.

Those who are going fishing on the Don in winter need to know that from November 15 to March 31, there is a complete ban on any fishing in wintering pits. Also, fans of fishing on the Don in the spring should know that fishing rules prohibit many fishing gear and devices for fishing and methods of catching crayfish.

During amateur fishing on the Don, it is prohibited to use:

networks of all types, traps of all types and designs, explosives, poisonous and narcotic substances;
electric current;
firearms and pneumatic weapons (except for shotguns and pistols for underwater hunting), fishing rods and spinning tackle of all systems and types with a total number of hooks (hooks) of more than 10 pieces. per person;
trawling fishing gear;
net straining and catching fishing gear and devices;
piercing fishing gear (spears, etc.);
traps;
carry out fishing: using the fishing method (by hooking), using the jamming method, using lines, using illumination,
on the track (trolling) using a sail and a motor using two artificial baits,
mugs and lanyards with a total number of hooks of more than 10 pcs. from a citizen
gill method (using bagasse traps, combines),
in the “close” way,
crayfish traps more than 5 pcs. per user, with a circumference diameter of each shell of more than 80 cm,
freshwater crayfish by hand into a ford or by diving.

The fishing rules have not introduced restrictions on the generally permissible catch in kilograms, but every fisherman must know the minimum size of the aquatic biological resources he catches, for which this size is established. The fact is that the Fishery Rules state: “Caught aquatic biological resources having a length less than the permissible size are subject to immediate release into the natural habitat with the least damage.”