More and more often, it seems that we’re hearing of invasive species in Georgia. Critters like the Joro spider and hammerhead worms have made headlines lately and you may have even spotted them in your yard. It’s a side effect of how globalized our world has become. With people and goods regularly being transported all over the world, it’s expected that hitchhikers like non-native insects might occasionally tag along and end up where they don’t belong. The species we’re featuring today isn’t one you’ll find in your yard, but it can be decimating to local fish populations: the flathead catfish.

Fishing in Georgia is a favored pastime for many, but there's one species that officials are asking sportsmen to keep an eye out for and not release back into our waters.
Jeff Hitchcock/Flickr
The flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is a distinctive-looking catfish that's native to parts of the Coosa River and other areas of Northwest Georgia.
ted_rocket/Flickr
However, flathead catfish have since shown up in areas of the Altamaha and Satilla Rivers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has recently found them in the Ogeechee River, too.
Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons

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They are major predators of many native species and can wreak havoc on ecosystems where they don't belong.
Florida Fish and Wildlife/Flickr
As a reminder, do not ever release fish into non-native waters.
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Wikimedia Commons
That includes aquarium fish and turtles that grow too large for their enclosures. Ecosystems may seem sturdy, but they can be quite delicate and introducing new animals or pathogens can cause major problems for many other species.
Georgia Department of Natural Resource staff are requesting that if anglers catch the fish, do not release them into non-native waters.
Stephen Rahn/Flickr
If you catch a flathead catfish, or any other non-native species, make sure to report them via the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Have you ever seen a flathead catfish in Georgia? Share your experiences in the comments!

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