By East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Northern pike are native to northeast B.C. and are common throughout Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie provinces, and northern territories. They have been introduced in many regions as stock for sport fishing and are spreading into southern B.C.

Northern pike is a predator of smaller fish and is fiercely territorial. Northern pike has been known to deplete prey species from waterways, pushing out local large fish and collapsing food webs. Northern pike are designated as a Regional Containment/Control species by the BC Provincial Priority Invasive Species List.

How to Identify:

Northern pike can grow up to 133 cm long, making them the largest invasive freshwater fish in B.C. They have a pointed head, a dark back with many small white spots, and a silver belly. Their dorsal fin starts far down the back, almost in line with the anal fin.

Impacts:

Ecological Impacts: Invasive Northern pike are aggressive predators that consume salmon, trout, bass, and perch, while competing with native fish for food. Their feeding can collapse food webs, spread parasites and diseases, and hinder recovery of at-risk species like White sturgeon and Shorthead sculpin.

Human Impacts: Pike threaten recreational fisheries, harm the sport fishing economy, and endanger culturally significant salmon and steelhead populations vital to First Nations communities. Most southern B.C. populations were introduced illegally, often for sport fishing.

Management and Prevention:

Angler Involvement: The province encourages anglers to kill all northern pike they catch to help control their numbers, and reward programs offer incentives for returning pike heads for data collection.

Preventing Spread: It is illegal to transport live fish between water bodies in B.C. Anglers should also follow “Clean, Drain, Dry” protocols for their boats and equipment to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Report Suspected Activity: If you catch or spot an invasive fish, or suspect an illegal transfer of live fish, contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277.

Learn more here.

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council photos

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council works to minimize the threat of invasive species that impact the environment, the economy and human health in the East Kootenay region of B.C., and we couldn’t do it without you! as a non-profit, we rely on grant funding and the generous support of our community to operate. Your donation will help us continue to protect the East Kootenay from invasive species. Donate here.

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