| Return of the SnakeheadsThey're baaaaack. Having beaten the Northern Snakehead in 2002, the Maryland DNR has discovered that the battle may have been won but the war is far from over.
The War's Still On
It started when a a single snakehead was found in a Wheaton lake. Officials were a bit concerned, but when no others turned up, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The mood changed when not one, but two snakeheads, were found in the waters of the Potomac. Officials admit it's possible there may be more than just two snakeheads cruising the Potomac. The question is, how many more are there?
More troubling is the fact that these fish were not found in small confined waters such as the original snakehead invasion at Crofton pond. If there are in fact, more snakeheads, eradicating them will not be as simple as dumping poison in the water.
High Profile Fish
For the time being all that can be done is ask fishermen to keep a watchful eye and report any suspicious fish to the DNR. Capturing the interest of fishermen, or the public in general, isn't a problem. From the onset, the snakehead story has gotten attention from all sectors, reaching as far up as the White House.
When first discovered, President Bush issued an emergency ban on the fish, which was ultimately followed by a permanent ban on 28 species of snakehead. The ban did little to stop the urban legends, which reached a peak when a low budget horror flick about Killer Snakeheads was released earlier this year. Now the rumors and stories are once again ciruclating in full force.
Are the Legends True?
Can they eat people? No, snakeheads are not eating people and small pets. However, they are a highly predatory fish that are quite capable of wiping out the native fish population in the areas that they have recently been found. The damage to the ecosystem could be significant.
Can they walk on land? Yes they can move across land, using their fins to aide them in wiggling (not walking) across dry land. Like many fish that live in areas where waterways may dry up, they have the ability to migrate to more favorable conditions. Their movements are not swift and they can't travel long distances. In other words, they aren't going to chase your down your pet, drag it off into the bushes and eat it.
Do they breathe air? Another truth, but they cannot live their lives out of water. The bottom line is that the snakehead is a fish. A tough fish that is able to survive where most fish would perish, but still just a fish. Godzilla has nothing to worry about.
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