Football-Sized Goldfish Have Invaded the Great Lakes: They ‘Eat Anything and Everything’

The Great Lakes are grappling with an unexpected — and unexpectedly large — obstacle.

The common goldfish, a species native to Asia and often kept as pets in the U.S., is far from harmless when released into the wild — and it’s wreaking havoc, according to the Great Lakes The New York Times.

Only a few inches long in captivity, these fish species can grow to be massive (up to 16 inches long) in the wild, upon release.

When removed from fish bowls and flake-based diets, goldfish resemble bright orange footballs—a sight that has surprised visitors to the Great Lakes.

A giant goldfish weighing 67 pounds. Caught by a fisherman – see photos!

One fisherman, Mike Loughran, told TODAY he almost went overboard when he first saw one of the colossal creatures in Lake Erie.

“Honestly, I was in shock,” he told the newspaper. – I almost fell off the kayak.

“It’s just crazy to see something that, you grow up, you go to a fair, and you get a little goldfish in a bag. All of a sudden, you see one that’s 14, 15 inches long,” said Loughran, who added that he’s caught about 10 giant fish on Lake Erie.

In addition to surprising visitors, large fish can destroy natural marine wildlife and the ecosystems they inhabit, according to Time.

Wild fish harvest and eat plants that contain native species and algae that, when consumed, cause the release of nutrients that help grow harmful algal blooms, Christine Boston, a water research biologist, told the outlet.

They can also “eat anything and everything,” according to Boston—and not many species can.

“A fish would have to have a really big mouth to eat it,” she said Time.

‘Resilient’ Python Invasion in Florida May Be ‘Impossible’ to Stop, US Officials Say

According to Boston, who works for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, common goldfish reproduce quickly. Not only do goldfish reach sexual maturity quickly, but females also have the ability to reproduce several times in one season.

Giant goldfish are wreaking havoc on the Great Lakes.

City of Burnsville via AP

“There are literally millions, if not tens of millions, of goldfish in the Great Lakes,” said Nicholas Mandrak, a biology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Time.

Invasive species also have an advantage when it comes to climate change because the fish can adapt to warmer and less oxygenated waters, he told the news portal.

Mandrak said goldfish first arrived in North America in the late 19th century. Still, their wild population has grown “dramatically” over the past 20 years — an increase he said was partly caused by the release of goldfish into the wild.

dr. Prosanta Chakrabarty, a professor in Louisiana State University’s Department of Biological Sciences, also attributed the recent increase to human error, telling TODAY, “They’re just human pets that washed up or people released them into local lakes and rivers.”

“And they keep growing as long as they have food,” added Chakrabarty.

Georgia officials are trying to stop the noxious, invasive lizards, which can grow up to 4 feet

Another professor, Dr. Anthony Ricciardi, who teaches invasion ecology at McGill University, called the phenomenon “the ‘Free Willy’ syndrome,” saying Time that people believe that goldfish will not cause problems in the wild because they are “small and cute”.

He added that even the smallest ones can cause significant damage to the environment.

Boston, who has been monitoring goldfish in Lake Ontario Bay for several years, is the lead author of a new study in Journal of Great Lakes Researchwhich details how to determine these invasive goldfish populations.

“We found out where they are before they start spawning,” she said Time. “It’s a good chance to get rid of them.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

When it comes to actually removing the goldfish (without killing native fish), Boston said options include using specialized nets under the ice and “electrofishing,” or using an electric current to stun and remove them.

According to an article published by Michigan State University, one way people can prevent the situation from worsening is to refrain from releasing goldfish into the wild.

Instead of dumping the fish in a freshwater body, goldfish owners are encouraged to try to rehome their unwanted fish at a humane society, school or education center. Or they can take the fish to a vet or pet dealer to discuss humane treatment options.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education