Heading snakeheads off at Waywayanda
-
- July
- 30
An aquatic pesticide will be used next month in an Orange County lake to keep an invasive, predatory fish from expanding its population and possibly getting into the Hudson River, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said yesterday
The fish – known as a northern snakehead – was found in Catlin Creek near Ridgebury Lake in the town of Waywayanda, Orange County. Native to Asia, snakeheads are aggressive predators that can eat and out compete native fish.
The DEC will collect fish other than snakeheads from Ridgebury Lake before applying the pesticide and replace the native fish in the lake afterwards.
The AP photo shows a juvenile northern snakehead. It is thought the fish were introduced to the U.S. by pet owners intentionally releasing them or through the live food fish industry.
This is from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission:
“Northern snakehead, which are common in the aquaria industry and also sold live in some fish markets, are one of 28 species of snakeheads native to Asia and Africa. They can grow to more than 3 feet long and exceed weights of 15 pounds. They are aggressive predators that feed opportunistically on amphibians, fish, aquatic birds, and, on occasion, small mammals. Of greater concern is the snakehead’s ability to survive in waters with low dissolved oxygen and to travel across land. When looking for more suitable habitat, snakehead species have been known to leave poor quality waters and survive out of water for three to four days in search of other bodies of water.”
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am by Mike Risinit.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print
| 
Email
Journal News staff writer Greg Clary writes Earth Watch, reporting on environmental issues in the lower Hudson region. Clary has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the Journal News since 1988 and has covered police and courts, transportation, municipal government, development and the environment in the Lower Hudson Valley, among other topics. 
Laura Incalcaterra covers the environment, open space and zoning and planning issues for The Journal News. A Boston College graduate, Laura grew up in Rockland, attended East Ramapo schools and has worked for The Journal News since 1993. Laura has written features and covered North Rockland, crime, government and a host of other issues.
Mike Risinit covers Patterson and Kent in Putnam County, as well as environmental topics touching on the Hudson River and the Great Swamp. Risinit has been a reporter at The Journal News since 1998.
I would say that this fish seems to be just the strong fella needed to survive in today’s conditions in the Northeast. Why stupidly poison our own lakes, just to fight the spread of true bio-diversity? It seems like a Hitleresque throwback to a less global age to do so.
I am disgusted that wrong-headed “environmental officials” see it as part of their job to throw poison in our lakes!
The world is changing.
We must all change with it, even environmentalists!
Artisan33, I agree that poisoning the lake seems unfair to other wildlife residents of the lake. But it its crucial to keep this invasive species in check. They throw off the eco-system and will cause competition to native species of our area. The snakehead is a voracious predatory and they can travel out of water to different ponds/lakes when they have killed off the aquatic life.
Why should we let this species of fish not native to the U.S. strive in our waters that could lead to extinction of native fish? Do you know the introduction of non-native fish and into our great lakes lead to the extinction of the Blue Pike?
Correct me if im wrong but the aquatic pesticide that the DEC uses is plant based and it clears on its own in a few days. Also, the lake will be restocked with the native wildlife that inhabited it prior to the “cleansing”. Let the DEC do what the do best. Insure the prosperity of the native wildlife of our state.
On the flip side, It shames me when I see our native version of this fish, the Bowfin being killed by anglers thinking it is a snakehead. We need to educate each other.
I feel like mentioning…....this is only about the northern snakehead…...the two invasive species are channa micropeltes(giant snakehead) and channa argus(northern snakehead).....these are huge monster predators…..
There are many species of snakehead that are very different than these…..such as channa bleheri(rainbow snakehead) which only grows to 6 inches, and is quite peaceful….
The two big guys mentioned are a serious problem…..but snakeheads get a really bad rap…..some are really beautiful and cool fish…
just my 2 cents worth….