In July, Michigan anglers caught three pacus – two in Lake St. Clair and another near Port Huron.
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A fish with human-like teeth and a reported tendency to chew on testicles has been discovered in a lake in MI.
“Invasive or not, planting fish of any kind in the waters of the state without a permit is illegal”, Popoff added.
A few MI anglers this summer reeled in fish that smiled back with human-like teeth. The DNR says a 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessment concluded the risk posed by pacus in the U.S.is uncertain because of a lack of research on the fish’s negative impacts. The U.S. leads the world in importing ornamental fish, supporting a worldwide aquarium industry that tops $1 billion annually.
Current climate data indicate this tropical, freshwater fish is unlikely to survive Great Lakes winters, but climate change may increase the possibility, according to the DNR.
According to Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources, the pacu fish is being released into the wild by members of the public who by them as pets and find they grow too large for their aquariums.
On the Department of Natural Resources Facebook page biologists remind people to never release pets into the wild.
The pacu fish have human-like teeth that are used for eating nuts and seeds and look somewhat similar to a native shad, the DNR said.
That’s a potential problem because the invaders may spread exotic disease, and some say they will bite humans, especially men. The fish are often imported from South America and officials think pet owners are turning them loose because they can no longer care for them. “In the worst-case scenario, released animals can thrive and reproduce, upsetting natural ecosystems to the degree that these former pets become invasive species”.
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Michigan State University’s Paige Filice recommends taking certain steps when pacus outgrow their artificial homes. “Bringing them in to stores like us is giving your fish an extra life”, said Preuss. It’s called RIPPLE (Reduce Invasive Pets & Plant Escapes) and you can find a link to the information here.
