North Carolina Man Snags Piranha

When on a fishing trip on the Catawba River in North Carolina, Jerry Melton was in for a big surprise. When he approached state officials to identify it for him, they informed him that the fish was a piranha, reports Fox News.

Piranhas are natives of South American fresh waters, and are not found in the cooler waters of North America. It is evident that the fish was once someone's pet, and is evidence of a growing problem: releasing exotic species into the environment.

When exotic species are kept as pets, many times they can become difficult to care for. Rather than calling a zoo or someone specialized in handling such creatures, individuals simply release them. Many times, as in the case of the piranha, conditions are not suitable for the species to thrive.

There are instances where released pets survive and thrive in the environment into which they are released. Boa constrictors, for instance, are becoming more and more common in Florida's Everglades. The conditions within the Everglades are amenable for boa reproduction, and they have no natural predators. More importantly, local birds have had no experience with these predators and so fall prey to them more often.

Although the chances of a population of piranhas becoming established in North Carolina are slim, piranha releases are more worrisome in the state of Hawaii, where conditions are more favorable for their survival. In fact, Hawaii's State Department of Agriculture has an amnesty program set up for individuals turning in their pet piranhas, which are illegal to own.

Piranhas are generally thought of as aggressive and voracious carnivores. While attacks on their prey can certainly be vicious, it is becoming evident that piranhas are not as aggressive as once thought. Members of this fish species are usually found alone, and will eat plants in addition to small fishes. The ferocious swarms of piranhas feared by many and seen on the movies are thought to form as a defense against crocodiles, dolphins, and larger fish species.

Thus, the piranha found in the Catawba River in North Carolina is likely to be the only one. Melton, who had been fishing in this region his whole life, did not recognize the fish after landing it. When attempting to pry its jaws apart, the fish's teeth etched lasting impressions onto the surface of the knife. He was likely thankful he used the knife rather than his fingers.

His one pound four ounce catch has had him wondering what else might be lurking in the waters of the Catawba River. He told reporters that "catching something like that is definitely going to make me think twice about what's in that water." The piranha is now in Melton's freezer, awaiting a trip to the taxidermist. This is unfortunate, as piranha meat is quite tasty, and he may never have another opportunity to sample it.

Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287974,00.html