An 8-year-old boy’s unexpected catch at Ridley Park Lake has drawn attention to the issue of exotic pets being released into local waterways. During a Saturday morning fishing trip, Seamus Coffey of Folsom was reeling in what he thought might be a large bass when he realized he had hooked something unusual.

Exotic Pet Releases a Concern

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission later confirmed the identification of the fish as a piranha, a tropical species native to South America. According to Mike Parker, a spokesperson for the agency, the presence of such a fish in a Pennsylvania lake points to a larger issue: people releasing exotic pets when they can no longer care for them.

Parker emphasized that releasing exotic species into Pennsylvania waters is illegal and can pose a danger to the public and disrupt the ecosystem. He also noted that exotic pets require a lifelong commitment and special care, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

Seamus’s father, Michael Coffey, disposed of the fish properly, and Parker commended him for making the right decision. The incident serves as a reminder for people to be responsible pet owners and to consider the consequences of releasing exotic animals into the wild.

Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.