A gaggle of wildlife biologists just lately made a uncommon discovery after discovering a fish hundreds of miles away from the place it was spawned.
The Aquatic Invasive Species Crew from the Kansas Division of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) have been on the Kansas River in quest of an invasive species once they stumbled upon the surprising – the American eel.
The KDWP workforce discovered the fish whereas conducting sampling operations close to Kaw Level, Fox 4 KC reported.
RARE SNAKE-LIKE FISH THAT BREATHES AIR CAUGHT IN MISSOURI FOR FOURTH TIME: ‘AGGRESSIVE PREDATORS’
“Each American Eel that’s present in Kansas started its journey within the Sargasso Sea and can have traveled roughly 3,500 miles,” KDWP officers just lately shared on their Wildlife Range Fb web page.
![Liam Odell holding an eel found in KS river](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/Liam-holding-eel-in-KS-river.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
An American eel was just lately pulled from the Kansas River for the primary time since 2015. (Liam Odell)
“It’s a catadromous species, which means it migrates throughout late summer season and autumn from freshwater and estuaries to the Sargasso Sea, the place spawning happens throughout late winter and early spring,” Fox 4 reported.
American eels will not be usually seen in waters throughout Kansas due to the variety of dams all through the state which interrupt the pure streamflow and impede the fish’s skill to maneuver swiftly from one river to the following, in keeping with the station.
The final time the American eel was noticed within the state was in 2015 when an angler caught one fishing close to Lawrence — this was the primary confirmed sighting by the KDWP in a decade.
For extra Life-style articles, go to www.foxnews.com/way of life.
The newest American eel discover by the Aquatic Invasive Species Crew marks one other decade for the reason that fish was final seen within the state.
Whereas discovering certainly one of these creatures in Kansas is uncommon, they don’t seem to be thought of to be endangered.
![Liam Odell with eel in KS river](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/Liam-with-eel-found-in-KS-river.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The American eel has to journey roughly 3,500 miles from the Sargasso Sea into the Atlantic Ocean to succeed in streams and rivers throughout Kansas. (Liam Odell)
The KDWP retains fishing information of American eels which are caught in Kansas, regardless of the low probability of reeling one in.
The present document dates again to June 23, 1987, after an angler, Ralph B. Westerman, landed a 4.44 pound American eel within the Kansas River.
The fish measured 35-and-a-quarter inches in size and was caught utilizing a rod and reel with a inexperienced worm, in keeping with the KDWP document particulars.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“It’s a fascinating species, and I am glad its getting some consideration,” Mark Van Scoyoc, a KDWP biodiversity survey coordinator and ecologist, advised Fox Information Digital.
![The Kansas Department of Wildlife still keeps fishing records for the fish in spite of its rare sightings in the state.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/american-eel-KS-river-split.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Kansas Division of Wildlife nonetheless retains fishing information for the fish despite its uncommon sightings within the state. (Liam Odell)
American eels will comply with the pure move of rivers and streams from the Atlantic Ocean to North America and can stay upwards of 40 years earlier than returning to the Sargossa Sea to breed, in keeping with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Providers.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
And whereas different freshwater eels may be discovered all over the world, together with the European eel, the short-finned eel and extra, the American eel is the one freshwater eel that may be discovered within the U.S., the federal government company added.