Lawrenceville, Georgia — Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources has a message for anglers: If you catch a northern snakehead, kill it immediately. Northern snakeheads are invasive fish that can breathe air and survive for days on land.
An angler recently reported catching one in a private pond in Gwinnett County.
How it got there is a mystery. State wildlife officials said in a press release it’s the first time the species has been confirmed in Georgia waters. It’s been found in 14 other states.
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Snakeheads are native to Asia. They’re long, thin and up to 3 feet long, colored blotchy brown. Their dorsal fins stretch along the entire back.
Officials urge anglers who catch one to do the following, according to Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources:
- DO NOT RELEASE IT.
- Kill it immediately and freeze it. They can survive on land.
- If possible, take pictures of the fish. Include close ups of its mouth, fins and tail.
- Note where it was caught like the waterbody, landmarks or GPS coordinates.
- Immediately report it to your regional Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division Fisheries Office.
A species is considered invasive when it moves into an ecosystem that has not evolved to control it. Once a species gains a foothold in territory without its natural predators, it can multiply rapidly. CBSN Originals explored the growing problem of invasive species in the documentary, “Burmese Python Invasion: Fighting Invasive Species” – watch in the video player below:
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