Who would have thought that a few tiny yellow fish could cause so much trouble? Well, when they are a hearty invasive species like goldfish, the trouble spreads like wildfire.
Wildlife officials in Colorado believe that someone dumped five unwanted goldfish into a Boulder lake about two years ago, and the population has since exploded to more than 3,000.
Because the goldfish are invasive, non-native species, they are wreaking havoc on the entire aquatic ecosystem. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) spokeswoman Jennifer Churchill explains:
“Dumping your pets into a lake could bring diseases to native animals and plants as well as out-compete them for resources. Everything can be affected. Non-native species can potentially wipe out the fishery as we’ve put it together.”
The invasive goldfish are threatening native species of fish such as channel catfish, blue gill fish, and sun fish, and brainstorming is underway as the state looks to remove the goldfish.
Currently, options include either draining the lake and collecting the goldfish, or something called “electroshocking.” Churchill says that both methods could be employed to remove the fish, and neither would kill any fish.
“With electroshocking, you go in the boat and stun the fish to paralyze and collect them. The fish could also be collected if the lake is drained.”
Once collected, the fish will be sent to a raptor rehabilitation center to be used as food. While some residents have expressed an interest in keeping some of the fish as pets, Churchill does not think it is such a good idea.
“I’m going to talk to Boulder County, who owns the lake to see what they think, but I don’t want to send the message that collecting fish for personal fun is okay”
CPW officials are asking anyone with information about who might have released the goldfish to come forward, and want to remind the public that releasing invasive species into the ecosystem is never a good idea.
