If You Catch it, Kill it! Snakehead Fish Turns up in Louisiana

There is something to be said about a fish that has a head that resembles a snake but that's not all, they can also crawl on land and breathe in natural air.

The Northern Snakehead as it is named is a highly aggressive invasive species that can feed and prey on other native species. They eat mostly fish but they also eat other small animals like frogs and crawfish. The Northern Snakehead has recently been found in Concordia Parish in the state of Louisiana and has been reported in 11 other states including Arkansas and Mississippi where they likely migrated from, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The Northern Snakeheads are native to Asia, which is actually where they originated from they get their name because of the large scales that cover their heads and can grow up to 3 feet in length. Most snakefish will most likely shy away from humans but if their nest is disturbed they are known to be aggressive toward humans. In fact, the TV Show River Monsters deemed it the "Fish From Hell," watch the video below this story.

If you happen to catch a snakehead fish wildlife experts ask that you kill it, freeze it, take a photo of the fish, and call the proper authorities so the fish can be examed to determine exactly what species it is. Do not throw the live fish on the shore because they have adapted to breathe in air and could crawl back into the water.

Fisheries will keep an eye on these fish because if they get a foothold in their habitat they could disrupt our ecosystem. To learn more about this aquatic invasive species go here.

Finally, Do you know it's illegal to possess, sell or transport live snakeheads in Louisiana?