Piranha caught by father-son duo in Pennsylvania lake

A father and son in Pennsylvania reeled in an unexpected catch: a two-pound red-bellied piranha at Ridley Park Lake in Delaware County last weekend, according to a post on Mike Coffey’s Facebook. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission later confirmed the species. Piranhas are not native to Pennsylvania and are usually found in warm freshwater across South America. It remains unclear how the fish ended up in a Pennsylvania waterway. The agency strictly prohibits introducing unwanted exotic pets, including piranhas and other non-native species, into state waters. This is not the first case of an exotic animal appearing in Pennsylvania; in 2024, an alligator in Erie prompted an investigation for possible unlawful release.