LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – It’s an unusual problem for a Henderson neighborhood.
Hundreds of invasive goldfish need to be removed from a park pond and rehomed. Thursday, FOX5 spoke with the Cadence HOA about how they are addressing the problem.
“I have seen kids and people looking over the railing and I was just wondering what are they looking at,” shared Bri Godfrey, who lives near Cadence Central Park Pond. A giant school of bright orange goldfish now call the pond home.
“I saw them, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! There are so many of them,’” Godfrey recounted. About a month ago, people noticed just a few fish in the pond, but the population quickly multiplied.
“Quite frankly, one or two, three or four goldfish is hard to really notice in a pond this size,” explained Cheryl Gowan, spokesperson for Cadence. While whoever dumped them may have thought they were setting them free, they may not survive.
“Don’t just think this domesticated animal is going to be okay in the wild,” Gowan argued. The lined pond was created about ten years ago when the Cadence Master Planned Community began. It is not natural and there is no food source for the fish.
“We are trying to do our best to try and relocate to other ponds that do have food sources,” Gowan revealed. Aquarium fish dumped in outdoor ponds and lakes is a big problem across the country. Massive goldfish, one in South Carolina growing to nine pounds, have been removed from waterways as non-native species can be harmful to the ecosystem.
“If you got fish, keep them for life. That is what you are supposed to do, not free them in the pond over here,” contended Matt Yacubic, who also lives near the park.
While pets are certainly welcome in the park, and you can spot people walking their dogs most any time of day, it is not a place to dump unwanted animals. “Go to animal control, Animal Foundation. There are so many rescues out there for various types of animals, not just dogs and cats,” Gowan reported.
The HOA is working to address the situation. Their maintenance vendor is currently removing and relocating the fish in batches.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
