Non-native species

Hello outdoorsmen and women. I hope you have been able to get some fishing in between the rainfalls this year.

With the warmer temperatures here, the carp are now hanging out in shallower waters which means it’s time for some bow fishing action. One carp I hope never to be bow fishing for in Ohio waters is the big mouth carp.

If you have ever been watching the Outdoor channel and seen bow fishermen after this species, you might wonder where they come from. Here is some information for you.

The Asian big mouth carp, which was imported from China to Arkansas fish farms in the early 1970s to improve water quality and control algae blooms. The fish escaped when aquaculture ponds adjacent to the Mississippi river flooded about a decade ago The fish has steadily swum upstream for years at a pace of 40 to 50 miles a year. They are now near the Quad cities on the Mississippi which is only a few miles from Lake Michigan on the Illinois River.

The fish grow so large, more than 100 pounds and four feet long, that it quickly out-muscles any predators. It can jump as high as 15 feet and has broken the nose of at least one commercial angler. It snacks on, plankton, the base of the aquatic food chain at a pace of two to three times its weight each day. While scientists have no idea if this species of carp could survive in the Great Lakes, they don’t want to find out. Right now they are in the process of putting up electronic barriers at the mouth of the Illinois River to prevent the fish from entering. If they would enter, the worse case would be that they find it suitable and compete with sport fish like the yellow perch, walleye, small and large mouth bass.

Between 1988 and 1992, the combined commercial harvest of big mouth carp and silver carp by Illinois anglers in the Illinois and Mississippi rivers was less than 1300 pounds. By 1994, the yearly catch was more than 5 tons, and since 1997 the annual catch has exceeded 55 tons.

All too often man has tried to help out Mother Nature by introducing non-native species into new areas. They were all good ideas but there was a lack of research done. Mother Nature has been taking care of herself for a lot more years than us upright walking creatures have existed.

Here are a few other non-native species introduced to North America.

The European starling – 100 of them were released in Central Park in New York City in 1890. Now they number in the millions from coast to coast. If you are not sure what one looks like, throw some bread in your back yard and I’m sure you will see one within a few minutes.

The house sparrow – the entire North American population is descended from a few birds released in Central Park in New York City in 1850. The red fox found its way to America in the mid 18th century imported from England and released from New York to Virginia by land owners who hunted them by horse back with hounds.

Those are just a few of the non-native species living in North America. All were introduced with good intentions. There are two sayings that come to mind as I write this article. If it works, don’t fix it and the devil fools with the best made plans.

Did some of these species help us in any way? I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to do my research.

Until the next time, may your mind, spirit, and instincts truly flourish.

By CRAIG STICKELMEYER

Zanesville Times Recorder