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CNN Live At Daybreak

Alien Fish in Maryland Pond

Aired July 10, 2002 - 05:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's time to call the "Men in Black." Wildlife experts are concerned that alien fish may be breeding in a Maryland pond. The notorious snakeheads breathe air, venture onto land and feast on native animals.

Reporter Jennifer Franciotti reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looks like a snakehead.

JENNIFER FRANCIOTTI, WBAL 11 NEWS: The same angler who last week caught a 26-inch Asian snakehead went fishing and caught eight small fish like this. DNR officials don't know for sure but think they're juvenile snakeheads that could have been dumped in the pond or worse, born here. If so, that means adult snakeheads are breeding.

(on camera): If the snakeheads are breeding in the pond there's another problem, there's no way to tell if this is from the first spawn. It could be from the 10th, 11th or 12th. And if that's true, it could mean this entire pond is filled with snakeheads.

JOHN GALVEZ, U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE: This special fish doesn't have a natural predator that can control it, so that's a problem.

FRANCIOTTI (voice-over): The northern snakeheads can grow more than three feet long, move on land and survive out of water for more than three days. They're predators with huge appetites that could threaten the natural habitat here and in other Maryland waterways.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If they're not going to do the job, we will.

FRANCIOTTI: This so-called frankenfish are getting attention from fishermen like these teens, but the property may soon be off limits to the public. A task force of scientists is being created to figure out how to get rid of the snakeheads. Options could include...

ERIC SCHWAAB, DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES: Large scale electroshocking is something that we can employ if we're able to deal with this, you know, the vegetation. Draining the pond would be one option. Poison is a technique that's used on a limited basis.

FRANCIOTTI: But that's a last resort. For now, they'll set special traps in hopes of finding the frankenfish. Jennifer Franciotti, WBAL 11 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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