State officials race to contain threat of invasive Northern Snakeheads found in Suffolk County pond

SUFFOLK COUNTY (WABC) -- A disturbing discovery at Lake Ronkonkoma is triggering a major response from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

For the first time ever, officials have confirmed the presence of the invasive northern snakehead fish, which is a dangerous predator capable of devastating native fish populations.

Now, state crews are racing to contain the threat in Lily Pond.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation was electro-fishing in the swamp in Suffolk County, looking for Northern Snakeheads.

Northern Snakehead is an invasive species native to Asia and can have python coloring, not to be confused with a native fish that has a similar look.

It's the first time the DEC has gotten a report of them on Long Island.

Snakehead enthusiast Vinny Conwell found three in Lily Pond in Lake Ronkonkoma this week.

"When it comes up, it pops the water and pops that bait, just explosively. I mean it just like a bada bing, bada boom thing! It's just awesome!" Conwell said.

"They're a very cool fish. I definitely agree with that. Other states deal with it in different ways, but in New York, we put a lot of effort into preserving our water, so this is not something we want here," NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Heidid O'Riordan said.

He's found them in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens and in Central Park.

"It doesn't have a predator; it's kept unbalanced. It will eat the native fish and really it'll upset the balance," O'Riordan said.

"It's a shame, the reputation they've gotten that they're gonna walk on water, they're gonna walk on other ponds, it's not true," Conwell said.

It depends on who you ask.

"Certainly, these fish can walk on land, they can cross the road," O'Riordan said

Lake Ronkonkoma is the largest freshwater lake on Long Island, the DEC doesn't want to risk upsetting this ecosystem with different types of bass, and perch and other species of fish.

They spent hours sending an electric current through the water to stun the fish in an effort to locate the snakeheads.

"Hopefully we can get it before they move to any other locations," NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Kevin Jennings said.

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