State wildlife experts are sounding the alarm about invasive Alabama bass. The species has now been found from the mountains to the coast, posing a serious threat to native fish populations.
State wildlife officials say the Alabama bass are growing in both number and range.
Lawrence Dorsey, a regional fishery supervisor with the North Carolina WIldlife Resources Commission, says the invasive species is similar to native fish like the smallmouth bass, but smaller.
Dorsey says their presence is not just an issue for anglers. The spread of the invasive species could be harmful to the aquatic ecosystem.
"Freshwater mussels in particular rely on fish hosts as part of their life cycle," he says. "And to eliminate that smallmouth bass out of the population could potentially have some very negative impacts to our native mussel populations."
In some places in the Piedmont, the growth of Alabama bass populations has led to declines of smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Conservation officials say it appears the invasive fish was put in North Carolina waters by anglers looking to boost bass populations.
Dorsey says such stocking of public waters is illegal without a permit from the state wildlife resources commission.