Posted on 04/21/2021 1:48:43 PM PDT by SJackson
Mesa County, Colorado — The complete draining of a western slope reservoir is underway in an effort to rid the small lake of northern pike before the illegally introduced predators devour four species of endangered fish that have been recovering there for more than three decades, CBS Denver reports.
The northern pike were first spotted at the Mack Mesa Reservoir by anglers last fall, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
CPW officials conducted an immediate sample count and removed several adult northern pike. Additional fish were later discovered during a time when northern pike are known to spawn.
"Northern pike are a voracious predator that cannot be managed in Mack Mesa," explained Ben Felt, CPW's aquatic biologist for the Grand Junction area.
CPW officials suspect someone illegally transported and released northern pike into Mack Mesa. "Someone trying to selfishly create a place to catch their own favorite fish," the agency stated in a press release.
"Movement and stocking of fish into Colorado waters by private individuals without CPW approval is against the law," said Area Wildlife Manager Kirk Oldham. "In addition, CPW does not stock northern pike in western Colorado waters because the species is a significant threat to native fish that are found only in the Colorado River basin."
A three-state pact, the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program, was initiated in 1988 to recover humpback chub, razorback sucker, bonytail and Colorado pikeminnow, four fish reported to be on the brink of extinction at that time. Mack Mesa is part of that network.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
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They drained the lake to save the other fish? Did they give them little reverse-scuba tanks?
Judging from the names of the “recovering” fish, the Northern Pike would be the tastiest.
Wow. Isn’t this almost exactly like throwing the baby out with the bath water?
I guess I’ll have to read the article, but exactly how they intend to save an endangered fish species by draining the water from its habitat escapes me.
Northern Pike, the thugs of the water.. they eat and eat and eat.. mostly other much more preferred fish.. Give me carp anyday. plus they are tough to debone so have bread and a beer handy in case ya choke on one.
Northern Pike, the thugs of the water.. they eat and eat and eat.. mostly other much more preferred fish.. Give me carp anyday. plus they are tough to debone so have bread and a beer handy in case ya choke on one.
The steamed whole pike at a Chinatown restaurant in Chicago was insanely delicious.
Esox
Pike destroy fisheries.
In a mere decades you can be left with nothing but cannibal Pike.
Trout, salmon, bass and any other game fish, kaput.
Just drag a red and white spoon around the lake and your problem is solved.
Similar to what the BLM did when they chose to store more water in Agency Lake to preserve the endangered shortnosed sucker fish, just north of Klamath Falls Oregon. Problem was the increase water depth created more water pressure on the bottom of the lake where the fish lived and killed a bunch of them off.
used to sell carp and suckers to an old Jewish woman for a nickle when i was little
i think she used to steam/parboil them to soften the bones?
Have to cut down healthy elm trees in case they get the Dutch elm disease and die.
Ummmm ... I know I’m not a degreed scientist who understands there are 57 genders but... won’t draining the reservoir also harm the species they’re trying to save?
lol- yep- they are living happily on land now
What does Black Lives Matter have to do with..
Oh ...
Bureau of Land Management. :p
A sad sign of the times...
We caught trout and bass out of that lake .
Maybe someone should drop off Chance the Snapper from Chicago.
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