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| If the fish does turn out to be a northern snakehead, it could mean the species somehow has gotten into Lake Michigan and could threaten the Great Lakes ecosystem, authorities said.
Nicknamed "Frankenfish" for its voracious appetite, the Asian species is an extremely hardy creature that reportedly eats anything in its path, can breathe air and can survive for days out of water. Experts fear it could quickly deplete food supplies relied upon by other fish, such as salmon.
Wildlife officials saw the posting, contacted the man and asked him to hold onto the fish so they could examine it. It's now on ice, and officials said they expect to look at it later today. But many already have reached a conclusion.
Each carp reportedly consumes up to 40 percent of its body weight daily. It also tends to get spooked by passing watercraft, sometimes jumping out of the water and smacking boaters.
I GOT AN IDEA LET'S START TRANSPORTING 50" MUSKIES AROUND CHICAGO AREA AND SEE IF THE KING OF FRESH WATER CAN DEFEAT THE ASIAN SNAKEHEAD.
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 SNAKEHEAD.bmp (41KB - 239 downloads)
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Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | I hear they caught one on a Weagle |
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Location: Chicago, Beverly | Why any fish like these or the various carp were ever allowed to be imported is beyond me.. The Silver Carp(refreced to in this quote from above: "Each carp reportedly consumes up to 40 percent of its body weight daily. It also tends to get spooked by passing watercraft, sometimes jumping out of the water and smacking boaters." ), has been caught in Chicago Park District lagoons not connected to the Chicago River, the Sanitary and Shipping canal, or Lake Michigan.. Yet you keep hearing claims how the electric fish barrier will keep the Carp out of lake michigan.. Fish is all ready there.. along with Goby, Zebra Mussels, Spiny water Flea, Ruffe and I am sure about a half dozen other unwanted species that our gov't failed to regulate.... I do have one question though, aren't Burbot and Bowfin in the same family as Snakeheads?...(I know Bowfin are for sure).. I also notice they keep saying how these fish can survive for days out of the water.... Well, they have the same breathing capabilities as a Bowfin... I have seen Bowfin thrown up onto a dry shore dead in a couple hours.. However throw that same fish into something moist like mud... Yep, it can survive for days.. Sankeheads need moisture also.. I think until the Illinois DNR shuts down the live fish markets that are in Chinatown these these invasive species will continue invading.
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Location: north central wisconsin | I sure hope it is not the snakehead that was found. I know the Asian carp is the species that the barricade was built for in Chicago. That species also consumes 40% of its' body weight daily, and grows to 150 lbs. It is also the asian carp known to jump and destroy boat consoles of passers by. This one would be bad enough if found in the big pond. If the snakehead made it here to, that would be horrible. Hasn't the snakehead been tracked out east somewhere after some idiotic pet owner dropped them into a local stream? How the heck did they get to the midwest, and what can we do to get these underground pet suppliers from bringing their goods??????????????????????????????????????????????????/ |
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| I know that the snakehead got into the Mississippi River when a pond that was raising them got flooded in Arkansas. This was in the early 1980's. Since then they have spread up the Mississippi into rivers such as the Illinois. Do not know fast they reproduce but it must be fast to be such a nusiance so quickly. |
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| I found this article at www.chicagotribune.com I'm sure they will be following up if it's in fact a new resident.
I wish muskies ate 40% of their weight a day.
Edited by muskycore 10/15/2004 10:01 AM
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Location: Greenfield, WI | Muskies do eat 40% of their body weight each day.....It is just that it occurs on the days that we aren't fishing!
Does the water temperature range of Lake Michigan have any effect of the snakeheads?
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 10/15/2004 12:56 PM
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Location: Monee, Illinois | I guess they are going to be doing studies in Burham Harbor (Chicago) to see to what extent the problem is or is going to be...Can you say www.snakeheadfirst.com Wow......
pgaschulz
Edited by pgaschulz 10/15/2004 3:21 PM
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | "I know that the snakehead got into the Mississippi River when a pond that was raising them got flooded in Arkansas".... Actually thats the silver carp again.. Floods of '93 I think |
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Location: St. Louis, MO., Marco Is., FL, Nestor Falls, ON | Kevin:
Here is a link to the silver carp and its spread.
http://midwest.fws.gov/LaCrosseFisheries/projects/asian_carp_silver... |
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