Invasive 'Frankenfish' Spreading to New States, Officials Urge Public Intervention

An invasive predatory fish, known as the northern snakehead, is expanding its presence into new U.S. states, prompting wildlife officials to advise the public on how to eliminate the species. This aggressive fish, native to Asia, can breathe air and survive on land for several days, making it a significant threat to native aquatic ecosystems.

Missouri recently confirmed its first sightings of the northern snakehead in Oregon County. Angela Sokolowski, MDC Invasive Species Ecologist, stated that this discovery suggests the fish are spreading from established populations downstream in Arkansas into the Eleven Point River system. The St. Francis and Eleven Point rivers are the only confirmed locations in Missouri so far.

Officials are urging anglers who catch a northern snakehead not to release it back into the water. Due to its ability to survive out of water, simply leaving the fish on the shore is often insufficient for killing it. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recommends actions such as severing the fish's head, gutting it, or placing it in a sealed plastic bag to ensure its demise.

The northern snakehead, sometimes called the 'Frankenfish,' poses a substantial threat due to its predatory nature and rapid reproduction rate. Females can lay up to 15,000 eggs multiple times a year, leading to quick population growth. The species consumes a wide variety of aquatic life, including native fish and amphibians, disrupting the food web and competing for resources with indigenous species.

"We anticipate negative effects to our aquatic systems, as the invasive fish competes with our existing fish populations for resources," Sokolowski said. "Snakeheads are predatory fish and will likely prey upon our native and sport fish, such as smallmouth bass, potentially causing direct negative impacts to populations."

The fish has been spreading across the U.S. since its initial detection in 2022. Before its appearance in Missouri, it had been identified in states including Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia. A notable discovery occurred in New York's Suffolk County on Long Island, where a fisherman caught one of the snake-like predators, leading the New York State DEC to increase efforts to control its spread.

Heidi O’Riordan, regional fisheries manager for the New York State DEC, emphasized the danger the fish presents, stating, "They don’t belong, they don’t have a natural predator, they will screw up our native fish populations, they tend to eat pretty much anything they can put in their very large mouths."

The northern snakehead is recognizable by its long, slender, snake-like body, an extended dorsal fin, and a mottled brown coloration. Adults can grow up to three feet in length and typically inhabit freshwater ponds, wetlands, rivers, and slow-moving streams, particularly those with stagnant water.