Illinois biologists are fighting fire with fire, or rather, fish with fish. Theres a huge effort to ward off an invasive species making its way towards the Great Lakes region. The Asian carp has been moving north towards Illinois and scientists have devised a natural way to stop it. Scientists believe that by reintroducing the alligator gar, the population of Asian carp may dwindle.
Alligator Gar
The alligator gar, originally a native to Illinois, has long been absent from the waters there. The last recorded catch was in 1966, it was only around 25 years later that the gar was declared extinct in Illinois. Biologists with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources began restocking this large fish in 2010. Once the largest native fish in the area, the newly reintroduced carnivore has developed an appetite for the Asian carp.
The alligator gar is a formidable foe, with an imposing set of razor sharp teeth, and a densely packed set of scales. Their scales are so tough that they were once used by Native Americans as arrowheads. Growing up to eight feet long and weighing as much as 300 pounds, the gar dwarfs the Asian carp. The dimensions of the alligator gar are even more impressive when you look at the carp, which grows to four feet long.
Asian Carp
Asian carp were imported from Southeast Asia to clean retention ponds and aquaculture facilities in the Southeastern US. Flooding helped them escape into the Mississippi River, where they migrated into the Missouri and Illinois rivers.
Once upon a time, fisherman thought the alligator gar was a threat to other sports fish species. Fortunately, the species survived in other regions further south, allowing scientists to return the native gar back to its old habitat. The program has been on hold for the last two years but is ramping up again, giving Illinois fishing fans a fighting chance against the invasive Asian carp.
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Featured Image from Doublebert/Shutter Stock
