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Prehistoric fish could be a weapon against Asian carp

Our conversation with Allyse Ferrara

It has scales so tough Native Americans once used them as arrowheads.

It can grow longer than a horse, and it loves to munch on Asian carp.

It's the alligator gar!

This ancient fish is found in the south, but they're being restocked in rivers and lakes as far north as Illinois in hopes they might control Asian carp and, in turn, protect the Great Lakes. 

Alligator gar expert Allyse Ferrara joined us today to talk about the giant fish and how it might help reduce the number of invasive Asian carp getting into the Great Lakes.

GUEST

Allyse Ferrara is a professor of biological sciences and an alligator gar expert at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast oniTunes,Google Play, or with thisRSS link)

 

Copyright 2021 Michigan Radio. To see more, visit Michigan Radio.

The biggest alligator gar ever caught. It weighed 327 pounds, measured 8.5 feet long and was more than 94 years old.
Courtesy of Allyse Ferrara /
The biggest alligator gar ever caught. It weighed 327 pounds, measured 8.5 feet long and was more than 94 years old.
The mouth of an alligator gar.
Courtesy of Allyse Ferrara /
The mouth of an alligator gar.

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