A rare discovery was recently made by a group of wildlife biologists from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) who found an American eel thousands of miles away from where it was spawned. The fish was found in the Kansas River near Kaw Point while the team was conducting sampling operations for an invasive species. American eels are catadromous species, meaning they migrate from freshwater and estuaries to the Sargasso Sea where spawning occurs. The presence of dams in Kansas makes it rare to find American eels in the state as they impede the fish’s ability to move swiftly between rivers, with the last confirmed sighting in 2015 after a decade.
Although American eels are not considered endangered, they are rarely seen in waters across Kansas. The KDWP keeps fishing records of American eels caught in the state, with the current record dating back to 1987 when angler Ralph B. Westerman caught a 4.44 pound American eel in the Kansas River. The fish measured 35-and-a-quarter inches in length and was caught using a rod and reel with a green worm. Mark Van Scoyoc, a KDWP biodiversity survey coordinator and ecologist, expressed his fascination with the species and the attention it is receiving. American eels follow the natural flow of rivers and streams from the Atlantic Ocean to North America and live up to 40 years before returning to the Sargasso Sea to reproduce.
The American eel is a unique species as the only freshwater eel found in the United States, with other freshwater eels like the European eel and short-finned eel found in different parts of the world. The eels undertake a long migration journey from the Sargasso Sea to North America, with the American eel living up to 40 years before returning to their spawning grounds. The sightings of American eels in Kansas are rare due to the presence of dams that disrupt their natural migration patterns, making it difficult for the eels to move swiftly between bodies of water in the state.
The recent discovery of an American eel by the Aquatic Invasive Species Crew from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks marks the first sighting of the species in the state in a decade. Despite the low likelihood of reeling in an American eel in Kansas, the KDWP continues to keep records of sightings and catches of the fish. The last confirmed sighting prior to this recent discovery was in 2015 when an angler caught an American eel near Lawrence. The presence of American eels in Kansas highlights the fascinating nature of these creatures and the importance of understanding their behavior and migration patterns.
The American eel’s migration from the Sargasso Sea to North America is a remarkable journey that covers approximately 3,500 miles. The eels follow the natural flow of rivers and streams, with their presence in Kansas being a rare occurrence due to the interruption caused by dams along the waterways. The discovery of an American eel by the Aquatic Invasive Species Crew sheds light on the diverse wildlife present in the state and the need to protect and preserve these species. While not endangered, American eels play a crucial role in the ecosystem and their presence in Kansas serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of wildlife across different habitats and regions.
