11-03-2005, 07:50 AM
FORT BELVOIR, VA[font "Arial, Helvetica,
sans-serif"][size 2]—[/size][/font]Hundreds of northern snakeheads were recently discovered in Dogue Creek near Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Anglers snagged and netted at least 80 of the non-native fish, but they say hundreds more snakeheads remained in the creek. Virginia fisheries biologist John Odenkirk pulled 62 more snakeheads out of the creek two days after the anglers reported their catch. Now he and other biologists want to know what led the species to congregate in this tributary of the Potomac River. Scientists say they're concerned that the species' growth trend appears to be irreversible, and will throw the ecosystem out of balance.
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Anglers snagged and netted at least 80 of the non-native fish, but they say hundreds more snakeheads remained in the creek. Virginia fisheries biologist John Odenkirk pulled 62 more snakeheads out of the creek two days after the anglers reported their catch. Now he and other biologists want to know what led the species to congregate in this tributary of the Potomac River. Scientists say they're concerned that the species' growth trend appears to be irreversible, and will throw the ecosystem out of balance.
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