Skittish invasion

NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD
Why they’re unwelcome These Asia natives are top-of-the-food-chain predators, meaning they’re fixin’ to run rampant. Plus, hello, they’re three feet long, have teeth and can move over land by “walking” on their fins. Did we mention they can survive out of water for three days? Good luck sleeping tonight.
Sordid history One snakehead was found in Burnham Harbor in 2004, causing widespread frankenfish panic. Though a subsequent search found no more toothed nasties, who knows what terror lurks in the deep?
Can they be stopped? Unclear. If the snakeheads establish a breeding population in the Great Lakes, there’s probably no way to get rid of them. Our best bet is to keep them out in the first place.
Where are they now? The U.S. has had mostly scattered, isolated sightings, except for around Washington, D.C., which is snakehead central, with about 160 sightings (including one in the Potomac River in front of the Pentagon building last year), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

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