SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A Northern Snakehead fish turned up in Asa Pond, the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Education revealed.
"A Northern Snakehead was recently caught in Asa Pond, South Kingstown," RIDEM said in a social media post.
"It’s currently unknown how the snakehead ended up in Asa Pond," the post said. "Anglers should be on the lookout in the Tri-Pond Park area."
The predatory fish are native to Asia but were introduced illegally to the United States, according to the post.
"Snakeheads represent a risk to Rhode Island’s native freshwater fish," the post said. "They can survive out of water for multiple hours due to a primitive lung and can travel to other bodies of water."
The department advised anglers who catch snakehead to "humanely kill them and immediately contact DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife at DEM.DFW@dem.ri.gov or 401-789-0281."
The department also warned anglers not to return snakeheads to the water and to be careful handling them, as they can bite.
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