2,000 Northern Pike Released to the River

Check out Dale Bowman's piece in the Chicago Sun-Times about this innovative habitat improvement project.

Qucik Facts: the northern pike is a member of the pike family (Esocidae), with its cousins the muskellunge and grass ickerel.  Like their relatives, northern pike live in lakes, reservoirs and streams, preferring areas of abundant vegetation and slow current. Pike are a top predator feeding primarily on other fishes with young fish growing rapidly in the first few years, reaching sexual maturity in two to four years. Spawning occurs in early spring, with eggs scattered over vegetation. Under natural conditions, the northern pike may live for about 10 years and reach a length of about 30 inches.