Northern Pike Threaten Alaska Salmon

0:00It's April 28th. This is Anchorage News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. Invasive northern pike are turning up the heat on Alaska salmon runs, and a new university of Alaska Fairbank study says warmer waters are making, a worse. These non-native predators snuck in during the 1950s are chowing down harder as River Tim's climb, especially in the Deshka River near Cook Inlet. Researchers found that higher temperatures rev up the pike's metabolism, turning them into faster, deadlier hunters while juvenile salmon get. Sluggish, the study, out of biological invasions, predicts pike will devour 6-12% more fish by the end of the century if warming keeps up. Salmon lovers in South Central Alaska are feeling the pinch, with king and co-hole runs dropping big time in places like the Deshka. Pikes stomach show they're eating less salmon now, but that's just because there are fewer smolts left, not because the invaders lost their appetite. Even worse, pike won't starve if salmon banish, thus swish to trout, why fish, or whatever

1:03is around, keeping the pressure on native species. Experts like study co-author Eric Shone warn their built to stick around his ambush pros. State fish and game crews are fighting back with targeted removals, like pulling over 25,000 pike from Alexander Creek, boosting salmon. There, with smart suppression and fast-blowing spots, they're still hope to keep these rivers flowing for the fish we love.