Скачать или смотреть Pacific lampreys -- Looks are deceiving

A parasitic eel-like fish with a gaping mouth, the rarely seen Pacific lamprey is often vilified., when in reality they provide an important service in our local waterways in California. A native component of the ecosystem, this fascinating creature cleans our rivers, delivers energy to the water system with marine nutrients and provides sustenance to tribes.

“They can be scary-looking, slimy, and they are nocturnal so you don’t know what’s going on; some people see them as ‘blood-sucking lampreys,’” said Damon Goodman, fish biologist with the Arcata U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office. “People think: 'what if they grab ahold of me?'"

The number of lampreys has declined in rivers throughout the state. As recently as the 1990s, Pacific lampreys occupied larger freshwater streams as far south as northern Baja California, Mexico. However, by 2016 they were absent south of Big Sur. To the north, lampreys are still present along the coast to Alaska.

Goodman along with Dr. Stewart Reid from Western Fishes got together to work with partners throughout the state, including the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, to try and reverse the trend, and avoid placing the species on the federal Endangered Species List.