Piranha found in US lakes. No, it’s not a promo for a new movie that will be hitting theaters soon. It is a fact and people have been finding piranha regularly for the past couple of years in lakes across the country. They haven’t found schools of piranha, mind you, but Department of Natural Resources officials believe that the piranha they are finding are aquarium ones that have just grown bigger than the owner anticipated and thus, were dumped in the lake.
About Piranha
Piranha are freshwater fish native to South America. They live in places such as the Amazon River and in lakes dotted across the continent. Scientists are not sure exactly how many different species of piranha exist as new varieties are found all the time.
Usually, piranha grow to a length of about 5.5 inches to 10 inches, although some can grow to be as long as 17 inches. You can see how an owner might not be prepared for a 17 inch piranha, however disposing of them in lakes or rivers is not only irresponsible, it’s illegal.
Many myths surround the piranha, which adds to the appeal of owning them. They do not ravage human flesh any time a toe is dipped into the water as has been seen in the movies. They do, however, eat meat which is why they have such strong jaws and sharp teeth.
Where Have They Been Found?
The piranha that have been found in the US have been found in places such as the Potomac, Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, and Lake St Clair in Michigan, and Tom Bass Park Lake near Houston, Texas. Most were caught accidentally during fishing expeditions in the summer. Scientists have agreed that in all of those locations, the piranha would not have been able to survive the cold winter temperatures.
How Did They Get Here?
The exotic pet trade has unfortunately introduced many animals to the US who are not native to this area. Many of those animals have been wreaking havoc on the environs that surround them as well as adding to the endangerment of our own native species of animals. One such situation is the large population growth of the Burmese python in Florida and how it has been eating a lot of the endangered birds in the area. If people continue to be irresponsible with their pets and just dump them when they no longer feel like caring for them, we may someday have schools of piranha who have adapted and are capable of living in certain lakes in the US. Before it gets to that point, we should make the penalties harsher for those who are caught smuggling the animals into this country and for those who are caught selling them.
Sources
Connect MidMissouri Online KRCG13. 25 October 2007. Web. 9 October 2011.
MSNBC Online. “Piranhas in Texas? Girl, 5, Lands One on First Fishing Outing.” 27 Sept 2011. Web. 9 Oct 2011.
Strawser, Christy. Macomb Daily. “Piranha Found in Lake St Clair.” Bountyfishing Online. 4 Sep 2008. Web. 9 Oct 2011.
