WRIGHTSVILLE, Pa.-- The Flathead Catfish is not native to the Susquehanna River, but it's population continues to grow. Officials say man brought the fish.
Fishery manager, Kris Kuhn said, "the fish and boat commission did not stock these fish intentionally. We do not know the source, but it is from an unauthorized introduction."
He said with years of growing they are an established species in the river.This is a concern for York County Commissioner Chris Reilly.
"The Susquehanna has a wide variety of issues," he said. "The last thing it needs is an alien invader stressing the fish population."
It's not bad for everyone, Rod Bates said it helped his business.
"It's been a smart business move for us to target them more," Rod Bates said.
Kuhn and other experts said the catfish shouldn't cause long term issues to the river. Something comforting to Reilly.
"Some experts that I've talked with say the population balances out with the amount of food available to it. I hope that is the case," he said.
He hopes his recent letter to the editor in a York newspaper can help to alert people to the situation.