EATEN ALIVE by Sea Lamprey!

TL;DR

Brave Wilderness host Coyote Peterson tests whether sea lampreys, invasive parasites in the Great Lakes, pose a threat to humans.

Transcript

(intense electronic music) - Are they hungry? They definitely look hungry. So if you guys are ready, I'm Coyote Peterson, and I'm about to enter the bite zone with the sea lamprey. This is it. (intense electronic music continues) (Coyote screams) (film reeling) (intense tribal music) (ominous electronic music) The Great Lakes have been invaded, and... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎣 The invasion of sea lampreys has severely impacted the fishing industry in the Great Lakes, reducing the annual harvest from 15 million to 300,000 pounds of fish.
• 🤑 Sea lampreys are primitive fish with a unique mouth structure that allows them to latch onto prey and feed on their blood and bodily fluids.
• 🤢 The experiment suggests that sea lampreys may not pose a direct threat to humans, as they are more interested in cold-blooded fish and rely heavily on their sense of smell.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did sea lampreys invade the Great Lakes?

Sea lampreys entered the Great Lakes through manmade shipping canals in the mid-1800s and eventually invaded all five lakes.

Q: What is the impact of sea lampreys on native fish species?

Sea lampreys are perfectly designed parasitic predators. They can kill up to 40 pounds of fish during their lifetime, with only one out of seven attacked fish surviving.

Q: What makes sea lampreys unique among fish species?

Sea lampreys are considered primitive fish. They lack bones, swim bladders, and proper jaws. Their mouth structure consists of a suction disk, sharp teeth, and a rasping tongue.

Q: Do sea lampreys pose a threat to humans?

Although sea lampreys are capable of suctioning onto humans, the experiment suggests that they may not be interested in warm-blooded meals like humans. They primarily feed on cold-blooded fish.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Great Lakes are facing an invasive attack by sea lampreys, parasitic predators that threaten native fish populations.

• Sea lampreys entered the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean in the mid-1800s and caused devastation to the fishing industry.

• Coyote Peterson tests whether sea lampreys pose a threat to humans by placing his arms in a tank full of lampreys.