06-06-2008, 03:44 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Relax. There are bajillions of leeches in Utah Lake...but not the tropical "python-sized" blood suckers you see in the movies or on the Discovery Channel. While there are some that grow to be a couple of inches...in the mud near the warm springs...the leeches in the main lake are generally small little guys like in the attached picture. They could attach to a foot or something, but are not big enough to draw blood on humans. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]They are a food source for many of the fish species in the lake. But, they also attach to the fish when the fish venture close enough to the bottom mud for them to "hitch a ride". You tend to see a lot more of them on fish in the colder months, when the fish are more likely to suspend down near the bottom. And, they usually just attach to the fins, where the blood source is easier to access.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Nature in the raw...eat or be eaten.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]They are a food source for many of the fish species in the lake. But, they also attach to the fish when the fish venture close enough to the bottom mud for them to "hitch a ride". You tend to see a lot more of them on fish in the colder months, when the fish are more likely to suspend down near the bottom. And, they usually just attach to the fins, where the blood source is easier to access.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Nature in the raw...eat or be eaten.[/#0000ff]
[signature]