Invasive Fish: Rosy Red Minnows
Rosy Red Minnows collected at Burnewood Lake Stormpond
Justin Poon, council member of the Nose Creek Preservation Society (NCPS) is a conservation biology student at the University of Alberta and recently received grant funding to coordinate a small citizen science project in collaboration with Ambrose University, the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM), as well as the School of Fish to track invasive fish called “rosy red minnows."
Often mistaken for juvenile goldfish, rosy reds are a domestic variant of our native fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and are commonly bred as feeder fish for aquariums. Unfortunately, people have been releasing them into waterbodies across the province, and researchers are worried they might outcompete, interbreed, and or spread pathogens to native fish, wild fatheads in particular. Additionally, compared to Prussian carp, rats, or wild boar, rosy reds are less of a priority for invasive species managers at the moment, which is why we’re doing what we can to help out.
There has been a steady increase in observations of rosy reds across Alberta, where you can see more detail in this Google Map to track and share new occurrences with people.
Since last August, more than a dozen new locations with confirmed or suspected reports have been made, including just two days ago on a conservation easement West of Calgary near Fish Creek owned by Foothills Land Trust (FLT).
Close up of Rosy Red Minnow measured at 5 cm.
A good chunk of occurrences currently documented have come from citizen scientists (links below), and we hope to keep that momentum going by reaching out to the community. Justin stepped into this project because Creek Watch has found rosy red populations at both of our Creek Watch testing sites.
This watershed now has some of the most occurrences in the province in the following locations:
Country Hills Village Stormwater Pond in Calgary
Nose Creek @ 15 St Bridge NE in Calgary
Nose Creek @ Nose Creek Regional Park in Airdrie
Nose Creek @ Township Rd 263 and Range Rd 294 near Balzac
Nose Creek Trout Pond in Airdrie (Suspected)
Cooper’s Crossing Stormwater Pond in Airdrie (Suspected)
There’s bound to be more. We are asking that if you stumble upon a suspicious-looking orange fish while visiting Nose Creek and its tributaries (e.g., Beddington, Confederation, West Nose, etc.), or your local stormwater pond,
please report your observation to the province,
email Justin, and
document in iNaturalist, tagging @justin734 and @mrjmorris in the comments!
Researchers will be sampling locations in the Calgary area this summer and in the Edmonton area starting in September, in hopes of acquiring large quantities of voucher specimens and fin clips for future genetic research.
