A fisherman in Missouri caught an invasive northern snakehead fish in late May, only the fourth documented time this species has been caught in the state.
Snakeheads resemble snakes with their head shape and can grow over 3 feet long.
Though left on pavement expected to die, the resilient fish survived for hours.
A conservation officer recovered the still living snakehead, a predatory species native to Asia that can breathe air and wiggle on land.
“The angler recognized they had something different and researched the fish’s characteristics, and realized it was indeed a snakehead,” MDC Fisheries Biologist Dave Knuth stated.
“The angler left it on the pavement for several hours thinking it would die, and it never did.”
Its invasive threat comes from aggressively preying on native species and competing for resources.
“When I picked up the fish, it was still very much alive,” MDC Wayne County conservation agent Jacob Plunkett said.
The first Missouri snakehead was caught in 2019, with two others in 2023.
The conservation department advises positively identifying any caught snakehead, not releasing it, safely killing it, and reporting the location.
Snakeheads pose a risk as an invasive predator not originally from North America.
“Snakeheads are an invasive species native to Asia. They’re aggressive predators, preying on native species, and competing for resources,” the MDC stated.
