Georgia Officials Are Warning People to Do One Thing If They Spot This Fish - Kill It

An invasive fish species that can live in water and on land has been found in Georgia, and officials have one main instruction if it’s spotted – kill it. 

The sea creature, which is known as the northern snakehead fish, was found in a pond in Gwinnett County, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division.

The fish, which is long and thin, can breathe air and survive on land. It’s a threat to native species, officials say, and they want it dead. 

If it’s captured, the Department of Natural Resources say to “kill it immediately” and then contact their team.

"Thanks to the quick report by an angler, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this water body," said Matt Thomas, chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division. "We are now taking steps to determine if they have spread from this water body and, hopefully, keep it from spreading to other Georgia waters."

If spotted, they also asked the public to freeze the fish and to take pictures, including close-ups of its mouth, tail and fins. The fish is illegal to have in Georgia without a wild animal license. 

The animal is also federally regulated. 

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