Massive flying carp frenzy triggered by researchers

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday shared a showing silver carp leaping en masse during a scientific electrofishing operation.

The Facebook description begins, “Oh carp, we’re going to need a bigger boat!”

The agency explained that silver carp can leap as high as 10 feet when startled by a boat’s motor or, in this case, an electric current used during population assessment studies.

The electrofishing survey was conducted on the Fox River in Illinois.

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Silver carp are an invasive species throughout their U.S. range, which includes much of the Mississippi River basin, the Ohio River basin, and other basins.

ALSO: Yellowstone tourist practically begs to be gored by bison

Aside from threats they pose to native species – they feed on phytoplankton and can out-compete native fish – they’re dangerous to boaters because of their tendency to leap.

Mature silver carp typically weigh about 20 pounds, but they can weigh as much as 80 pounds.

Other species of invasive carp in the U.S.: Bighead carp, black carp, and grass carp.