August 5, 2015

Invasive snakehead found in Potomac River

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WAMU

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Invasive snakehead fish have been found for the first time above Great Falls in the Potomac River.

The locks, dams and cascading water of Great Falls were supposed to be the barrier that prevented snakeheads from getting further up the Potomac River, says Andrew Landsman, a biologist with the National Park Service. "It was assumed that they would not be able to swim upstream through the falls."

But Landsman says that isn't necessarily how snakeheads got above Great Falls.

"More likely, it would be reintroduction by someone who wanted to recreationally fish for them. Or someone who wanted them to establish a population in order to eat them," he says.

Landsman adds that's how snakeheads first got into the lower Potomac. He says they feast on the river's native fish.

"The northern snakehead is actually from China. It's not native to this area. It was found in the early 2000s in Maryland. It's not known how they came here, but it's assumed to be from fish markets," he says.

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