Bad news, America. The frankenfish is back. Actually, these normally water-bound beasts are surely known by a number of names in China, Russia and Korea, where they're native. In America, we call them the northern snakehead fish. The highly invasive, fang-toothed creatures can grow to be the size of a human being by feeding on frogs and crayfish. They're also seemingly impossible to kill since they can live out of the water for several days in the right conditions. The northern snakehead fish is absolutely terrifying, and it's back.Or at least that's what Central Park authorities want you to think. A number of signs popped up all over the park in recent days, imploring fishermen not to throw a northern snakehead back if caught. The sign tells the fishemen to "secure the fish" and "keep it in a secure container until it is picked up by officials."The Department of Environmental Conservation comes off as a little more imperative. "If you catch one, DO NOT RELEASE it," reads the department website. "Kill it immediately, freeze it and report your catch."Officials are heading up to Central Park later this week to hunt for evidence of a northern snakehead invasion. Whether they've found the fish and kept the news quiet or are simply preparing for the worst, it's unclear if that invasion's already started. But if it has, the return of the northern snakehead could be devastating for the local ecosystem.Since these fish aren't native to the United States, the small amphibians and fish that the northern snakeheads go after are unprepared for such a vicious predator. The fish have only started to appear stateside in the past decade, so environmental officials are working hard to keep them out of our waters. Nevertheless, small populations have appeared everywhere from Florida to Massachusetts. And a few years ago, one was caught in the Harlem Meer, a small pond on the northern edge of Central Park.If my not-at-all-exaggerated description of the snakehead fish didn't scare you sufficiently, that's probably a good thing. Because as fierce as these slimy things sound, they're not a threat to humans in that way that, say, rabid wolves or bloodthirsty sharks are. Sometimes, nature needs protecting, though, and that requires a little bit of assertive language. Nothing like a government agency slapping you over the head with warnings in ALL CAPS. Heck, why not just sound a siren?
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