Matthew Kaiser reports (in the most recent Friends newsletter) on Resource Manager Dave Lawlor’s July survey of the waters of Dogue Creek, which drains Huntley Meadows Park. Fortunately, no snakehead (Channa sp.) fish were detected, and even more positively, samplers found ten Largemouth Bass. It is believed that the presence of the bass will put pressure on snakeheads that would otherwise move upstream in the Creek. Other species counted in the survey (alas, no scientific names in the report):
- Yellow Bullhead
- American Eel
- White Sucker
- Satinfin Shiner
- Creek Chubsucker
- Tessellated Darter
- Lamprey
- Green Sunfish
- Pumpkinseed
- Bluegill
- Creek Chub
- Eastern Mudminnow
I find it unpleasant to find myself reporting observations of Lamprey as a good thing. Lampreys are the one taxon of the animal kingdom that I could do without, if it’s all the same to you: they’re nasty things.