Minnesota Zoo Feeds Animals Invasive Species From Minnesota Lakes

I have to say, this seems like a pretty good idea! There's a lake in Edina, Minnesota, that is so overrun with invasive species that it's become a food source for the animals at the Minnesota Zoo.

Lake Overrun With Goldfish

WCCO reports that Lake Cornelia has a ton of goldfish, which are an invasive species. They are so overpopulated in Lake Cornelia that they outnumber the native species of fish. It causes a problem for the ecosystem. The schools of gold fish stir up the bottom of the lake too, which increases the phosphorus, which causes more algae and weed growth. It's not good for the lake.

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The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District has been working to clean up the lake. They catch and net the goldfish. Until now, they've had no other choice but to send the goldfish to the landfill.

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Then, a creative solution was discovered, and they've partnered with the Minnesota Zoo. Many of the zoo animals, like bears, otters, and sea lions, eat fish as part of their diet. Now they take the goldfish from Lake Cornelia and feed the animals at the Minnesota Zoo. Genius!

How did the goldfish get there in the first place?

Believe it or not, goldfish end up in lakes because they were once pets. People release their goldfish in a lake, and they end up breeding. For lakes like this one, the population just takes off, and the only way to manage them is by removing them from the lake.