Frankenfish' are plaguing ecosystems. What to know about the species

Northern snakeheads, nicknamed Frankenfish, are posing growing threats to ecosystems across the United States. These freshwater predators can breathe air, survive out of water, and walk on land for at least four days. They have spread along the East Coast from Delaware to West Virginia and beyond. The species is native to Asia and was first found in Crofton, Maryland, in 2002, before appearing in the Potomac River two years later. Since then, they’ve surfaced in rivers in New York, Pennsylvania, and Arkansas. Under the Lacey Act, snakeheads are an injurious species, prohibiting live possession or transport. Control efforts include angler harvesting, which Maryland notes can reduce populations by about 25% in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. If caught, anglers should kill the fish by freezing it and should not release it; reports should be made to state or federal agencies with a photo. The piece also notes that poison hemlock is a toxic invasive species spreading in the U.S.