Exotic species exist in every Great Lake and have threatened to change the food chain in many locations. Below are three exotic species that are of current concern in the Great Lakes.

Sea Lamprey

Zebra Mussels

Round Golby

Sea lampreys attach to fish with a sucking disk and sharp teeth. They feed on body fluids, often scarring and killing the fish.

These small shelled creatures attach to any surface in a lake. Their sharp edges make beaches hazardous, and they can clog water intakes.

The goby is an aggressive fish that lives on the bottom of a lake. It competes for food with other fish and is not desirable by fishermen.

Fish populations have declined dramatically

Changing water quality, clogging intake pipes

Decline in native fish populations

Aggressive program to control their growth through dams and chemicals.

Physical removal, and limiting ballast water emptying from ocean ships.

There is little that can be done to control this species other than to prevent it from getting into water bodies in the first place.