Invasive Northern Snakehead Caught In Bowie Pond, City Officials Say

BOWIE, MD — City officials are investigating a report of an invasive fish caught at Allen Pond Park earlier this month.

A fisherman reported catching a 6 to 8-inch Northern Snakehead July 2, according to a news release from the city. The fish escaped back into the pond while the angler was extracting it from the pole.

Northern Snakeheads are an invasive fish first discovered in Maryland in 2002 in a pond in Crofton. If one is caught, it must be killed immediately. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, the fish is native to China, Russia and Korea.

The City Park Operations Division is awaiting instructions from Maryland Department of Natural Resources on what actions to take next, if any.

If anyone suspects they have caught a Northern Snakehead fish at Allen Pond Park, they are asked to contact Park Operations Manager Sheri Beach at 301-806-3086 or sbeach@cityofbowie.org. You may also contact the Park Ranger on duty at 240-508-3881.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons