Piranha caught by man fishing at popular lake in British Columbia
Piranhas are carnivores and are known for their sharp teeth and intense biting.
A fisherman in British Columbia was surprised when he reeled in a tropical red-bellied piranha while fishing in Westwood Lake in Nanaimo last week.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) says that this predatory fish is not native to Vancouver Island and they cannot survive the chilly winters.
Bodies of water would be at or near their peak temperatures in September after a long summer of sunshine and hot temperatures. Lakes and rivers are now beginning to cool as winter approaches and the number of daylight hours decrease.
Source: B.C. Conservation Officer Service
"It is a common aquarium fish, and this is likely the release of an unwanted pet," said the BCCOS in a Facebook post on Friday. The BCCOS says that they believe that the animal was probably abandoned in the lake by a pet owner.
This incident is not the first of its kind - another piranha was discovered in the same lake earlier this summer.
The BCCOS says that it is illegal to release an aquatic invasive species on Vancouver Island as it could have harmful impacts on aquatic native species. Releasing an aquatic invasive species can result in fines up to $100,000 or up to 12 months in prison.
Piranhas are native to tropical rivers in South America and can survive in water temperatures as low as 10 degrees. They are carnivores and are known for their sharp teeth and intense biting, which can be seen in the video above.
Piranhas have few predators in the wild and are while some believe that they can attack humans, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says that "experts believe this may be an exaggeration and suggest that piranhas pose little threat to humans."