Thursday, October 24, 2019

Beware Of The Snakehead Fish...!

There is a species of fish showing up around Georgia that is troubling to many officials. The Snakehead is able to breath air or water and it is the only time I have ever heard of officials suggesting that people kill it on sight! They don't even suggest that for rattlesnakes!

Invasive Snakehead Fish That Can Breathe on Land Is Roaming Georgia

BY JAKE ROSSEN   



MOHD FAZLIN MOHD EFFENDY OOI, FLICKR // CC BY 2.0

A fish recently found in Georgia has wildlife officials stirred up. In fact, they’re advising anyone who sees a northern snakehead to kill it on sight.

That death sentence might sound extreme, but there’s good reason for it. The northern snakehead, which can survive for brief periods on land and breathe air, is an invasive species in North America. With one specimen found in a privately owned pond in Gwinnett County, the state wants to take swift action to make certain the fish, which is native to East Asia, doesn’t continue to spread. Non-native species can upset local ecosystems by competing with native species for food and habitat.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division is advising people who encounter the snakehead—a long, splotchy-brown fish that can reach 3 feet in length—to kill it and freeze it, then report the catch to the agency's fisheries office.

Wildlife authorities believe snakeheads wind up in non-native areas as a result of the aquarium trade or food industry. A snakehead was recently caught in southwestern Pennsylvania. The species has been spotted in 14 states.

Sometimes it seems that Mother Nature is getting a little payback for everything, ya know?

Coffee out on the patio again this morning.

6 comments:

JC said...

Pretty good eatin' I understand, farmed for that in the Far East. Reports that it's now been renamed 'Sherman's Northern Snakehead Fish' due to its being found in Georgia are as yet unconfirmed. But plausible.

Mamahen said...

That is odd. I don't think I would want to see one.

HermitJim said...

Hey JC...
I didn't know that, but it's good to know. I do like fresh caught fish, all fried up!
Thanks for the info and for stopping by today!

Hey Mamahen...
I would like to see one, just because I'm the curious type.
Thanks for coming over today!

JO said...

I think these exotic pet shopts should be closed down, you know most of what they sell are a danger to our lands. People buy these things and then turn them lose when they either get to big or have lost interest in them.

Coffee please

Big Sis said...

I hope Kiki or Momlady read this. I believe MomLady has a private pond on her property. Thanks for the info. Love you,Bubba.

Sixbears said...

A few years back they even found a few in NH. Someone must have released them into local waters. Great effort went into wiping them out.