LAKES ARE BEING RUINED BY PET GOLDFISH BECAUSE THEIR OWNERS DUMPED THEM THERE, BUT A LOCAL ZOO HAS A GRISLY CURE
Zookeepers have proposed a real “grizzly” solution to controlling giant invasive goldfish. Pet goldfish that have been dumped into US waterways have been causing havoc for years by outcompeting native species and growing to enormous sizes. Enterprising Zoo administrators in Minnesota have devised an unconventional solution to combat the problem: feeding goldfish to hungry zoo animals.
“Early results are promising,” Kelly Kappen, a nutritionist at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, where the bold new conservation initiative is being trialled, told Jam Press.
According to reports, the goldfish virus has spread widely throughout Minnesota's waterways, including Lake Cornelia, where thousands of goldfish left by negligent pet owners have taken over. The invaders, which can weigh up to four pounds when released into the wild, disrupt the natural ecology by stealing nutrients from native fish, destroying vegetation, and even spreading disease, according to NPR. This unlawful activity, known as illegal "fish stocking," is troublesome.
“Goldfish, originally discarded by pet owners, have become a prolific problem in Lake Cornelia, becoming more abundant than other native species in the lake,” said the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. “Not only are their numbers blooming, but they stir up the bottom of the lake, releasing phosphorus that fuels algae blooms and clouds the water.”
Even though the golden creatures have been successfully removed by environmentalists, which is an accomplishment in and of itself, they often end up in compost sites or landfills, which is not ideal. However, a recent collaboration between Nine Mile Creek and the Minnesota Zoo allowed for the use of harvested fish, such as carp from Minnesota rivers and goldfish from Lake Cornelia, to feed the inhabitants of the wildlife sanctuaries.
“We are working with a limited number of partners to ensure safe food handling, and inclusion in animal diets is carefully evaluated as part of a well-balanced and individualised diet plan,” said Kappen. “Many animals are suspicious of new foods, so repeated introductions are often necessary for these new options to be consumed.” She added, “So far, brown bears are loving the carp, sea lions are tentatively enjoying the goldfish, and river otters have sampled both goldfish and rusty crayfish. We’re still learning what works best.”
The zoo intends to grow the campaign as part of "their continued commitment to animal wellbeing and environmental sustainability" in light of this promising carp-accio initiative, she said.
Naturally, Minnesota is not the only state that might profit from the unusual goldfish disposal strategy. Additionally, the issue has surfaced in Colorado, Nevada, and most recently, Pennsylvania, when US Fish and Wildlife Service officers removed a huge "megalodon" goldfish from an Erie pond. According to authorities, the creature might have spent up to two years swimming with the fish.
According to the officials, "someone released it, thinking they were being good." "Rather, they produced an intrusive issue that may persist for decades."