In recent years, there has been a concerning trend in the United States where pet goldfish that owners no longer want are being irresponsibly dumped into lakes and other water bodies. These invasive fish not only grow into massive sizes, posing threats to local fish species’ survival, but they also disrupt the ecological balance of the environment. To address this issue, a zoo in Minnesota has come up with an innovative solution.
According to reports from CBS, numerous goldfish have been abandoned in lakes in Minneapolis and St. Paul, particularly in Lake Cornelia in Edina, Minnesota. Government agencies like the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District have removed thousands of goldfish from these areas.
Jordan Wein, a staff member at the agency, remarked, “The population of goldfish in the lake is extremely abundant, surpassing the numbers of any other native species in the lake, which is indeed a problem.”
These goldfish not only occupy unsuitable habitats but also stir up the lake bottom, releasing phosphorus that leads to excessive algae growth and murky water quality. Previously, captured goldfish had only one fate – ending up in a landfill.
However, the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota is now including captured goldfish and carp into the diets of bears, otters, and sea lions, offering them as food.
Nolan Schlichter from the zoo mentioned that the animals at the zoo were accustomed to consuming frozen fish from other sources, so it will take some time for them to adjust to the taste and smell of the goldfish being fed to them now.
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District stated that Minnesota Zoo is the first institution in the state to collaborate with them on this initiative. They will evaluate its effectiveness this season, and if successful, this practice could be expanded to other zoos or wildlife centers in the future.
Reported by the New York Post, Kelly Kappen, the zoo’s nutritionist, mentioned, “The preliminary results look promising.”
Kappen noted that they are working with a few partners to ensure the safety of food handling. Many animals tend to be skeptical of new food, so it usually takes repeated introductions of these new food items for them to consume them with confidence.
She added, “So far, the bears seem to prefer carp, sea lions are currently enjoying the goldfish, and otters have sampled both goldfish and rusty crayfish. We are still exploring which method is most effective.”
Considering the promising outlook of this initiative, the zoo aims to expand this activity as part of their ongoing commitment to animal health and environmental stewardship.
Minnesota is not the only state facing the issue of goldfish invading water bodies. This problem has also been observed in Colorado, Nevada, and most recently, Pennsylvania.
In a previous report by Dajiyuan, officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discovered a large goldfish in Erie County, Pennsylvania, that appeared to be larger than an adult’s palm.
The agency emphasized on their website, “Goldfish are an invasive species. This means they do not belong in the wild, and if released, they can cause serious harm to local species. A goldfish released into the wild can grow up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), disrupting the entire ecosystem and even harming local fish populations.”
The agency urges people not to casually discard unwanted goldfish but instead opt for rehoming, returning to pet stores, or contacting local aquariums and rescue organizations for proper disposal methods.