Georgia wildlife officials are warning people about the snakehead fish, an invasive type of fish that has been spotted around the state for the first time.
According to Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), an angler caught a snakehead fish, which is native to the Yangtze River basin in China, in a private pond in Gwinnett County earlier this month. The snakehead fish can grow up to three feet long and it’s known for its dark brown blotchy appearance.
Wildlife officials are now urging residents to “immediately” kill any snakehead fish they see, since they have the ability to survive in water and on land, Fox News reported. The state’s Department of Natural Resources said that these invasive creatures have been reported in 14 U.S. states so far. They could be a threat to native species because they compete for the same food and habitat.
It’s unclear how the snakehead fish got into the pond, however, Georgia’s DNR says invasive species are introduced through unauthorized release. In the state, it’s against the law to import, sell, transport, or transfer any species of snakehead fish without a proper wild animal license.
Citizens can help reduce the population of these invasive species by learning how to identify a snakehead fish, disposing of aquarium animals and plants into the garbage and not the wilderness, and dispose bait properly.
More on Geek.com:
- Angler Reels in Strange Fish With ‘Two Mouths’ in Upstate New York
- Man Catches Enormous 50-Pound Catfish in Arizona
- Watch: Crocodile Snatches Angler’s Catch in Australian National Park
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