Esox lucius

History of Spread

Esox lucius (Northern Pike), in North America, is native to Atlantic, Arctic, Great Lakes and Mississippi Basins from Labrador to AK and south to PA, MO, and NE. It is also native to Eurasia as far south as Italy, and is common in the inner Baltic (Page and Burr 1991; Scott and Crossman 1973). Esox lucius was introduced outside its native range, in a limited manner by the United States Fish Commission, but many later introductions were by state agencies (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Scott and Crossman 1973). Esox lucius were native to Lake Champlain (and possibly other large deep lakes in New York State), but were stocked in the Hudson River Basin in the 1840's, reaching the lower Hudson by 1976 (Mills et al. 1997). An illegal introduction of E. lucius occurred in CA in the Feather River (Sacramento drainage) between 1976 and 1988. An eradiction program is in progress in C A(Dill and Cordono 1997). Esox lucius has been introduced to non-native waters in 37 states (Fuller et al. 1999).

Early unsuccessful stocking by United States Fish Commission of 100 'pike' in upper James drainage in 1894, but widespread stocking in the Chesapeake Basin apparently began in 1960's in PA (Denoncourt et al. 1975b) and later in MD and VA. In VA and most of MD this species appears to be largely or wholly confined to reservoirs. Esox lucius frequently have limited or no reproductive success south of their native range. In VA (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993), the Susquehanna River PA (Mangan 1986), and RI (Fofonoff personal observation), populations are dependent on stocking. Populations introduced south of the native range are also frequently subjected to mortality from a combination of heat and hypoxia (Jenkins and Burkhead 1993).

Potomac River - E. lucius were stocked in Piedmont streams and impoundments, but have not been caught in recent years (Ernst et al. 1995). In 1992, the District of Columbia released 4,000 fingerlings (Christmas et al. 2000), but the fate of these fish is not known.

Susquehanna River - Esox lucius is not listed for Susquehanna by Fowler (1919; 1948) or in Bielo's (1963) survey, but was described later as 'extensively introduced throughout PA waters by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission. It has now become a common gamefish of the Susquehanna drainage' (Denoncourt et al. 1975b). It was recorded in the lower Susquehanna and in the Conowingo Reservoir (1973-1975) (Denoncourt and Cooper 1975). Reproduction appears to be rare, but a juvenile was collected in Susquehanna in northern PA in 1986 (Mangan 1986). This species has been collected in the Susquehanna below Conowingo Dam, 1972-84 (Pavol and Davis 1982; McKeown 1984). PA has stopped stocking of esocids in the Susquehanna (McLean 1999, personal communication).

Delaware River - Thirty-six 'pike' were introduced in Brandywine Creek DE 1888; probably this species, and presumably a failed introduction (Raasch and Altemus 1991). Esox lucius was not listed for Delaware Estuary by Horwitz (1986).

History References - Bielo 1963; Denoncourt and Cooper 1975; Denoncourt et al. 1975b; Dill and Cordono 1997; Ernst et al. 1995; Fowler 1919; Fowler 1948; Fuller et al. 1999; Horwitz 1986; Jenkins and Burkhead 1993; Lee 1976; Mangan 1986; McKeown 1984; McLean 1999 personal communication; Mills et al. 1997; Raasch and Altemus 1991; Scott and Crossman 1973

Invasion Comments