Blue Pike (Blue Walleye)
Extinct
Background and Characteristics
The blue pike, endemic to the Great Lakes, preferred cool water, living in deeper water in the summer and moving closer to the shore in the winter. The fish were pursued both as a sport and for commercial gain and were declared extinct in 1970.
Threats and Solutions
The blue pike became threatened, and later extinct, due to the draining of wetlands, building of dams, and the introduction of several invasive species, such as sea lamprey, alewife, and rainbow smelt. Due to the fact that there is not a single living blue pike left on the earth, there is no hope for population recovery, but their extinction could have been prevented by protected their habitat.
Works Cited
"The Blue Pike: Extinct." Bagheera. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2013. http://bagheera.com/inthewild/ext_blupike.htm.
N.d. Photograph. Web. <ed101.bu.edu>.