Goldfish are being chucked away by careless owners – and they’re causing chaos in local lakes.
But one zoo has come up with a surprising solution.
Conservationists in Minnesota have been struggling to “cure” Lake Cornelia, which has been overtaken by thousands of dumped goldfish, outnumbering native species and fueling algae blooms.
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So what to do with all the fish once removed?
Enter Minnesota Zoo, which has offered to take them off the hands of conservationists – and use them as food and bait for their animals.
The zoo says the goldfish will be fed to bears, otters, and sea lions, as reported by Need To Know.
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District said: “Goldfish, originally discarded by pet owners, have become a prolific problem in Lake Cornelia, becoming more abundant than other native species in the lake.
“Not only are their numbers blooming, but they stir up the bottom of the lake, releasing phosphorus that fuels algae blooms and clouds the water.
“For years, goldfish pulled from the lake ended up in landfills and compost sites.”
This season, a new partnership was formed so that harvested fish – including goldfish from Lake Cornelia and carp from Minnesota rivers – could be used to feed zoo animals.
Zoo nutritionist Kelly Kappen said: “We are working with a limited number of partners to ensure safe food handling, and inclusion in animal diets is carefully evaluated as part of a well-balanced and individualised diet plan.
“Many animals are suspicious of new foods, so repeated introductions are often necessary for these new options to be consumed.”
So far, brown bears are loving the carp, sea lions are tentatively enjoying the goldfish, and river otters have sampled both goldfish and rusty crayfish.
Kelly added: “We’re still learning what works best.
“Early results are promising, and we look forward to expanding this initiative in the years ahead as part of our ongoing commitment to animal wellness and environmental stewardship.”
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District says the partnership with the Minnesota Zoo is the first of its kind in the state, with plans to evaluate its success and possibly roll it out to other wildlife centres.
