Recent reports have surfaced of a so-called "Frankenfish" being caught last month in Bensalem, Pennsylvania—a location about 10 miles from the New Jersey border and thousands of miles from the species' native habitat, leaving wildlife officials and locals concerned.
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| Angler stunned after catching strange 'frankenfish' in unexpected location: 'I saw rows and rows of very sharp teeth' |
What Exactly Happened?
According to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, the northern snakehead, sometimes nicknamed the "Frankenfish" for its bizarre, hybrid-like features, is a freshwater fish known for its long fins, large torpedo-shaped body, and distinctively sharp teeth.
"When I looked into its mouth, I saw a row of very sharp teeth," shared angler Josh Tees, who made the catch. "I did not want to get bit."
While the snakehead is native to Asia, the global seafood trade and other human activities have introduced it to the Northeast as a highly dangerous invasive species. It is illegal to keep them, and they are often required to be killed immediately upon being caught.
In July, Tees discovered and caught an 18-inch Frankenfish in Neshaminy Creek in Bensalem. The real surprise was where it was found: somehow, this particular snakehead was discovered upstream, above a dam. This is an alarming, yet not impossible, feat for the species, which can mimic a "walking" motion with its fins and can survive for several days out of water by breathing air.
Why is the Frankenfish a Cause for Concern?
Though native to China, Russia, and other Asian waters, sightings of the Frankenfish in and around the Delaware River in the United States are not uncommon.
With their fearsome teeth and a notoriously voracious and aggressive appetite, these freshwater predators can quickly devastate ecosystems. They overconsume the smaller fish and amphibians they prey upon, disrupting the natural food chain. According to Business Insider, a single female can lay approximately 50,000 eggs at once, allowing them to rapidly take over a habitat and outcompete native species for resources.
This ecological destruction, in turn, poses a direct threat to nearby fishing communities who depend on a diversity of local fish for their livelihood.
What Measures Are Being Taken Against This Invasive Species?
In the United States, it is illegal to possess a live Frankenfish or to release one back into the water. When enforced by wildlife management agencies, regulations like these can help control snakehead populations.
Meanwhile, the Courier-Post encourages New Jersey residents to report all sightings of the Frankenfish to the state's fish and wildlife department.
You can take action against invasive species wherever you are by contacting your regional authorities or reaching out to local lawmakers to push for more thorough monitoring and removal programs.
