Monsters from the deep dark ... Schuylkill

Snakehead (Photo by Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

Rich Horwitz has to have one of the creepiest jobs around.

The fisheries scientist at the Academy of Natural Sciences knows all about the the snakehead fish that first showed its pointy head and siky grin in FDR Park in 2004. Dubbed a "Frankenfish," it's ugly and it gobbles down native species.

Then there's the flathead catfish, another species that's not supposed to be here, but that has thrived in the Schuylkill River.

And more.

Horwitz is going to give a fishy virtual tour at a "Science on Tap" session Monday at National Mechanics, a bar in Old City that hosts the monthly science cafe.

He'll give an informal presentation on "Shocking Streams and Freaky Fish." Here's the description from the science tapsters: "Alien invaders. Deadly river monsters. Fish infused with chemical toxins. All these and more swim a few miles from Center City."

The adventure begins at 6 p.m.

Posted by Sandy Bauers @ 7:00 AM Permalink | 2 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:54 AM, 05/07/2011

I hate the scum bags who import these things and dump them in our water ways.

— tiger

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:10 PM, 05/17/2011

To Tiger
So you hate scumbags that dump Snakehead fish into Pennsylvanian rivers. Do you also hate people that imported Asian Carp (i.e. Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Bighead Carp and Black Carp) into the United States of America? Those people then distributed the Asian Carp to people in several states who distributed Asian Carp to farmers and municipalities which the same Asian Carp got out to American waterways. Do you hate the people that distributed the Asian Carp to the farmers and municipalities? Do you hate the people who paid the people to import the Asian Carp to America? Do you hate the people paid the people in those states who gave the Asian Carp to the farmers and the municipalities? The Asia Carp have been terrible destructive in our country while there is massive evidence showing that the Snakehead fish have not been harmful and may have been beneficial. This is main reason why the fish and game people for Pennsylvania decided not to waste your money trying to eliminate the Snakehead fish. By the way the people that paid for the importation of Asia carp include you through your federal taxes. If a Pennsylvania farmer or municipality received any Asian Carp, then you paid for that transfer with your state tax money. I suggest not wasting your time on hate and devote yourself to shrinking government and stop the problems that big governments create.
- wtommyb

— wtommyb

2 comments

About Sandy Bauers

Sandy Bauers is the environment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she has worked for more than 20 years as a reporter and editor. She lives in northern Chester County with her husband, two cats, a large vegetable garden and a flock of pet chickens.

GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science.

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