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Science

‘Freshwater Killer Whales’ (a.k.a. Catfish) Are Now Eating Pigeons — See It!

Dec. 7, 2012 7:31am Liz Klimas

Cats and catfish have more than just whiskered faces in common. Turns out they’re both inclined to stalk and catch birds (sometimes with success).

University of Toulouse Researchers Study Invasive Catfish Beaching Behavior to Capture Birds

(Image: PLoS One)

In research published in the journal PLoS One, scientists from the University of Toulouse studied the “beaching behavior” of catfish (specifically the invasive Wels catfish, Silurus glanis) to capture land animals (pigeons). According to the study’s abstract, 45 attacks were observed, showing a 28 percent success rate for the catfish.

The study title calls the catfish the “freshwater killer whale.” This YouTube video shows the fish going “completely orca” on an unsuspecting pigeon:

The catfish observed specifically by the researchers are not native to the area. Native catfish, they noted, did not exhibit such beaching behaviors to attack birds. This might suggest that the alien catfish could be adapting its behavior toward a new type of prey since its in a new environment, which would lead ”to behavioral and trophic specialization to actively cross the water-land interface.”

“Introduced species can display ecological and evolutionary adaptations in their new environment, and the occurrence of new behaviors can increase invasive species success,” the researchers wrote. ”

They said the tendency of an invasive species to adapt to a new environment in novel ways like this could have “unexpected implications for consumer-resources dynamics and ecosystem functioning.”

(H/T: io9)

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Comments (125)

geomann
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:48am
My mouth is watering thinking of deep fried catfish.

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- Deliverance_from_the_left_now
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:25am
  I’m with you on that…I’d love to have some channel cat right now…actually it’s almost lunch…I’ll catch you guys latter, I’m going to go get some fried channel cat.
  
  Report this comment
- Make them stop
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:39am
  Catfish that taste like city chicken, YUM!
  
  Report this comment
- Cesium
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:00pm
  Not kosher in the eyes of the Lord!
  
  Report this comment
- NV3
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:10pm
  People will eat anything that is fried or seasoned. Fish and meats that are said to be UNCLEAN Biblically are also proven scientifically to be toxic to the human body and not meant to be eaten.
  
  Report this comment
- searcher619
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:43pm
  The only reason they are called “unclean” is because people back then didn’t properly cook the meat which would often result in food poisoning.
  
  Report this comment
- SUNTZU
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:55pm
  CESIUM
  Thats right,their bottom feeders
  just like progressives
  
  Report this comment
- SUNTZU
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:01pm
  SEARCHER
  And my Grandfather told me,Jesus didn’t shave
  cause he didnt have a razor
  He has been gone a long time but I still laugh when I
  think about it.
  
  Report this comment
- RamonPreston
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:07pm
  searcher619
  You are incorrect. The bible says that predators and savengers are “unclean” because they eat sick and dead animals. The toxins stay in the predators/scavengers bodies and when you eat them you are eating all those toxins. Ever notice how “good” pork, catfish, etc taste? It’s the toxins. Like putting a filter on your toilet and when it gets full you eat the filter.
  I’ll stay with haddock, thank you. Abuse your body and you will eventually get sick. Even cancer is a dietary problem.
  
  Report this comment
- SUNTZU
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:12pm
  RAMON
  Like I said
  progressive-bottom feeders
  
  Report this comment
- ShortTom
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:14pm
  @ NV3 and Cesium-
  
  Are you serious? Ever read Acts 11:7? Or 1Timothy 4:4?
  
  Report this comment
- NV3
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:37pm
  @Ramon, you are right. And Unclean fish/animals can’t eliminate those toxins the way that Clean fish/animals can.
  
  Report this comment
- Kenai
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:37pm
  Catfish are bottom feeders…in other words (poop eaters) I never ate catfish and I never will.
  
  Report this comment
- Coonshine
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:11pm
  Invasive species would be endangered species where I’m from. What a novel way to control pidgeon populations though. Every town with a fountain or pool to water the pidgeons….
  
  Report this comment
- WATER-THE-TREE
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 2:42pm
  SEARCHER619
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:43pm
  The only reason they are called “unclean” is because people back then didn’t properly cook the meat which would often result in food poisoning.
  
  They are called unclean because God said they were unclean. and would you not know that they had to mention evolution, BS
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 3:57pm
  Cesium
  
  Try harder. You seem to have some knowledge of genetics & biology. but apparently you cannot understand the Bible other than the context of atheist and/or gay talking points.
  
  Many posters here & even wikipedia point out which laws were meant for Jews, which were dietary laws & so forth. They also point out that the New Testament replaced or tweaked the Old Testament. Jesus said that he was fulfilling Mosaic Law & yet he added a twist to it, when eh stopped a woman from being stoned & told he to go & sin no more. If you cannot comprehend that or refuse to then you are trolling when you cite Deuteronomy. Certainly people have heard the arguments & counter arguments so many times that it doesn’t even get them worked up as so much that is it more like water off a duck’s back. You (& Others) use the same fallacious logical arguments that we could make a flow chart of move & counter move to distribute.
  
  BTW have seen the June 2007 Issue of SCIAM? there is an article on the metabolism 1st theory of life. It is hypothesized that there was a replicator molecule that came before RNA, but which RNA subsequently assumed all its’ functions so it no longer exists. But we could conceivably replicate that chain of events & prove it was feasible. I think they did mention something about clay providing a shell or membrane for the chemical soup.
  
  Report this comment
- proliance
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:37pm
  ShortTom, they could be Seventh Day Adventists. They pick and choose certain passages from the Old Testament to obey while ignoring others. Not sure why, but I think just to piss off other Christians. Kinda like the Christian equalivent of Intenet trolls.
  
  So if any of you won’t eat catfish or shrimp because of Leviticus, do you cut the **** on the sides of your heads?
  
  Report this comment
- pagraywolf
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:38pm
  NV3
  
  Please site your sources. What I’ve read says you are wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 4:40pm
  Cesium
  
  When you use the atheist argument that Christians violate Deuteronomy by mixing fabric or eating shellfish, shrimp, catfish, etc … look up Shatnez.
  
  If you are willing to read RNA 1st, DNA 1st or metabolism 1st theories of evolution, you might want to read Deuteronomy a little closer & not blithely follow talking points on Deuteronomy espoused by those that hate Christianity, Judaism or religion in general.
  
  Report this comment
- Cesium
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:04pm
  @walkabout What supposed once living Jesus said are trusted from the pens of others. Secondly when someone can convince me better that Jesus suggested his followers adapt a new covenant that entails the ceasation of their Judaism I’ll stop making my point. A rabbi is a rabbi. jesus’s virtue was entirely jewish, even if the other jews leaders at the time adopted a type of fundamentalism. Christ never suggested to start a new religion. The mosaic covenant never led to “mosesanity.” It’s mythology to me anyway boss. The metabolism theory is interesting.
  
  Report this comment
- RobbieTLHughie
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:27pm
  I was going to say, those bad boys look delicious.
  
  Report this comment
- Wolf
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:43pm
  “What the Lord has blessed, let no man consider unclean.”
  That’s enough for me: God said it, that settles it. I’ll eat anything I please if the Lord blesses me with it and I appreciate that blessing.
  And catfish are excellent eating.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 1:00am
  Cesium
  
  Glad we can agree on the metabolism 1st theory being interesting. It would fill in a major missing link.
  
  While looking it up i found an article where arsenic is used as building block for DNA. I got to look up which column it is in the table of elements to see what element it replaced after a fashion.
  
  Report this comment
- Cesium
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 1:56am
  @walkabout. yea the arsenic hypothesis is intriguing. A couple of years ago researchers reported their claims they found a microbe utilizing an arsenic backbone but the work became highly dismissed.
  
  Report this comment
- sbenard
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:32am
  That sounds much more delectable than eating a pigeon, feathers and all! Imagine the indigestion! And talk about insoluble fiber! Yuck! Catfish have TERRIBLE culinary taste!
  
  Report this comment
- Thomas
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 7:19pm
  More like fresh water sharks than killer wales.
  
  Report this comment
wisehiney
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:44am
We threw some catfish carcasses in the yard the other day and enjoyed the Sunday afternoon Buzzard fights. And delicious fried catfish battered with House Autrey Hot Breader Mix. Good with a cold one.

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- beckistheking
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:09am
  You just won a case of Glenn Beck’s Bacon-Flavored Toothpaste. Think how shiny you’ll get those last three teeth! Congrats!
  
  Report this comment
kiddopup
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:42am
These kind of articals I thought Glenn was not going to have this is not new bass and catfish have always done this type of thing sadly glenn is turning into just another no news news outlet I was hoping he wouldn’t but he is to big to control it

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- Spirit Warrior Woman
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:49pm
  Wow! Where’d you learn grammar from? Dr. Seuss??
  
  Report this comment
TEIN
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:30am
Are these catfish good to eat??? Then the “unexpected implications for consumer-resources dynamics and ecosystem functioning.” is that there will be more blackened catfish on my plate no matter what those critters “ecological and evolutionary adaptations in their new environment” might be…I can adapt quicker!!!

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- Treaty
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:43am
  Yeah, they taste like Chicken though.
  
  Report this comment
- scjeff
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 1:22pm
  The ones featured here will taste like pigeon.
  
  Report this comment
- grayling646
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:57pm
  …but most of them tastes like cat. How do you think they got their name?
  
  Report this comment
Blazen420
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:21am
These scientist must have just come out of their apartment for the first time. Fisherman have benn witnessing these things for thousands of years.

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- DonaldH
  Posted on December 8, 2012 at 12:26pm
  They’ve been doing it to ducklings along the Kanawha River for as long as I can remember… I hate catfish,,, they’d eat YOU if they got the chance…
  
  Report this comment
YallComeBack
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:13am
“They said the tendency of an invasive species to adapt to a new environment in novel ways like this could have “unexpected implications for consumer-resources dynamics and ecosystem functioning.””

Hahahahahaha. Yeah, like thinnin’ out the dang pidgeon population!

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- castuslonginus
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:59am
  Winged rats.
  
  Report this comment
bobad
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:08am
Many birds make a living by eating fish, I guess turnabout is fair play.

Those look like blue catfish, which are native to most parts of the country.

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- objectivetruth
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:10am
  Yes they do look like blue catfish.Mere babies at that.
  
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confederacyofdunces
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:02am
The Pigeons were brought her by the Europeans as a food source. We eat them in fancy restaurants and call it Squab. I dont see why you cannot eat them, People eat Dove without problem, why not Squab.
This would solve the hunger problem for the homeless and the bird poop problem in 1 stroke. Give golf clubs to the homeless and a little bread . Bam,Bam, Dinner is served.

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- grimmster
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:18am
  One reason people dont eat squab, they are baby pigeons,not full grown birds…….Huge difference with a peta loon around…..
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:26am
  squab is delicious, an more meat than dove.
  
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- objectivetruth
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:44am
  Prefer quail myself.Dove is dark meat.Its good but a bit strong[depending on when shot] and dry.Pidgeon is plentiful and alledgedly good eating.In my area they carried far more diseases than other wild birds and even domestic birds.We did shoot them when the need arouse, we however didn’t eat them.Also in the old days they were used for carrier purposes.They were taken young trained and well kept.Well these two reasons are for me enough reason not to partake of them short of starvation.
  
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Joyzee
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:59am
HEY!.. Waiter this Fish’ tastes like Pigeon…!!!

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dangmc
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:57am
I read all the comments and would like to say:
1. Incomplete article- eg. where are these ‘non native catfish’ from? also ”to behavioral and trophic specialization to actively cross the water-land interface.” wtf! some of us don’t have advanced degrees.
2. Catfish AND pigeons are delicious; the birds need to be captured in the nest just before they start flying-now called squabs, full grown and plump.

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- dangmc
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:13am
  Just a small correction: I skimmed over the part where was stated “(specifically the invasive Wels catfish, Silurus glanis)”. What is ‘Wels’? Welsh?
  
  Report this comment
- objectivetruth
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:08am
  @dangmc
  The wels is a predatory catfish hailing from eastern europe.At one time it could be found in most countires in europe.It was overfished for food and fear.This catfish is an active shoreline hunter.They are massive and have been known to take children.In a similar fashion as this fish did this bird.While I must confess I’d dearly like to go fishing for one.I’m grateful they aren’t in america.
  
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ginger100
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:57am
catfish are evolving into cats

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- YellowFin
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:19pm
  Actually, the cats evolved back into fish. That is why they are called catfish.
  The cats got tired of eating mice and wanted to eat birds instead and they figured it would be easier to catch them from the waters edge. And that is why we have catfish today. It’s all very scientific you know.
  
  Hahahah!
  
  Report this comment
Landon410
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:40am
I’ve watched catfish and bass eat baby ducks before, this really isn’t that surprising

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- NinjaJuice
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:54am
  I have never seen them hunt like that. Thought they were scavengers.
  
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- txannie
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:04am
  Catfish aren’t the only fish that take small birds. Largemouth Bass do too. Not really any new news to anyone that’s grown up fishing in southern part of the country. I’ve heard of large catfish taking small dogs that were swimming with their owners on the lake, too. Don’t know if it’s true, but some of these catfish get huge.
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:29am
  They will latch on to a big redneck arm, noodling is very popular. Eventually those giant cats will start grabbing children.
  
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- YallComeBack
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:38am
  I have too. Saw a momma duch lay her eggs across a pond in a secluded spot. After several weeks, she led them to the more communal area near the dock- swimming across a small portion of the pond. I’m not sure a simgle duckling made it. The big bass were dining.
  
  What makes this a bit unusual is the coming out of the water and onto the beach partially.
  
  Report this comment
- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:52pm
  The replica of a coworker’s 105# catfish used to hang over the door of The Dock restaurant on the Tailrace Canal in Monks Corner, SC.
  
  Report this comment
GrayPanther
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:27am
Better a fat catfish than more flying rats.

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:23am
Really nothing new. I remember as a kid watching a Disney wild animal special that showed several large cat fish pulling ducks floating on the surface beneath it.

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lowerclassrepublican
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:19am
Feeding like this during the day maybe new, but the best way to catch the big catfish are by noodling or at night with limb lines, hot dogs just above the water line.

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- dangmc
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 10:04am
  @lowclass: Please explain this further if you will, I’ve always caught catfish on lake bottoms during the day using whatever stale or spoiled meat I had around. Thank you.
  
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- dangmc
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:14am
  OK-I finally looked up ‘noodling’. Wikipedia has a fairly complete description, including the dangers involved, but didn’t mention getting finned as being one of them. My Dad almost lost a foot as a boy stepping on a catfish in the bottom of his boat. (This was prior to discovery of antibiotics.) Catfish, at least all that I’ve known have an extremely sharp dorsal fin!
  
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- objectivetruth
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:30am
  @dangmc
  Your method for taking pond cats is a good one.If however you want to take blue[aka channel catfish or shovel heads then live bait [large minnows] and ver heavy test line should be used.These are larger and more hunters than scavengers.While you can’t really eat a pond catfish channel cats are good eating.
  Note you might not always be able to tell if a channel cat has taken the bait very easily.Unlike the pond cat it doesn’t mouth it then sink it.It plays with your line.If you fish in rocky ledge areas then you may think your line is simply stuck.I had this happen to me only to discover a very large catfish at the end of my line.I got it within a foot of the waters surface only to have it disengage itself from the line.I tell you I felt silly stupid cheated and duped all at the same time.Actually I can only assume it was a channel cat.Its the only fresh water fish with that shape size mouth in those waters.The only other fish that size would have been a bull shark.
  
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TROONORTH
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:08am
Nothing new here. Southern Carp have been jumping into boats for years in an attempt to eat fishermen.

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- YellowFin
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:21pm
  Ahh, evolution at work.
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:00am
Ahh, finally a good purpose, use, for air-rats, as catfish food. Catfish are good people food. The best revenge on an intrusive messy fast breeding pest animal is to eat them – like sharks were eaten onto the endangered list – oh darn. Pigeons are inedible to people, but yummy to fish that are yummy to people.

Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn progs.

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- rabblechat
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:14am
  Pigeons are edible and quite delicious, Although I do prefer Catfish.
  
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- tajloc
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:34am
  ever heard of squab?
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 11:59am
  Y’all are welcome to all of my share of air-rats and air-rat pups, sea GU-11s and buzzard B-1RDs.
  
  A lesson I enjoy teaching newbie bicyclists is the hazard in chasing B-1RD buzzards off the roadside and into the air. For Sudden Take Off (STO), they lighten their ‘loads’. You are welcome to it.
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:54am
I want to see them jump through hoops at Sea World. Well,… I guess that would be Pond World.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:17am
  Yeah, and with trainers in fancy wet suits riding them.
  
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BrutalTruth
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:42am
Didn’t see any actually eaten. Looks like the pigeons all got away. I’m sure that doesn’t fit the narrative.

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- Glenn_S
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 9:44am
  They were all good fighters except that last one at the very end of the video clip. Mr. Whiskers took him down to meet Davy Jones. :)
  
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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:41am
They should get food stamps, way easier?

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Geopatriot
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:33am
PETA can’t possibly have anything to say about this one!

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:43am
  So what will PETA say if the pigeons suddenly start eating catfish?
  
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DZ-015
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:26am
Are graboids next?

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ICRedifURBlue
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:15am
……..so when do they start growing legs?……….

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- skiz
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:42am
  They wont because evolution is a lie!
  
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- YellowFin
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:42pm
  Well, according to the “scientists” they will grow legs to be able to survive some change in their environment. This will have to be done to procure a new food source that will require those new legs.
  But if they do not yet have those new legs to get the new food, then they will starve to death before their new legs can grow. And if that happens……..oh well, I’m sure those “scientists” will come up with an explanation. We need faith.
  
  Report this comment
- godhatesacoward
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 6:17pm
  Google walking catfish.
  
  Report this comment
T-2
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:13am
It’s global climate change. The lakes are getting dryer.

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- Angry-Elf
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:19am
  Good one!
  
  Report this comment
- YellowFin
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 12:46pm
  If a lake gets drier, is it still a lake?
  
  A lake can not get drier. As long as it has water, it remains wet. :-)
  
  Report this comment
diamondcutter
Posted on December 7, 2012 at 7:43am
taste like chicken!

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- RightThinking1
  Posted on December 7, 2012 at 8:14am
  Lol… good one
  
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