Return of alligator gar proposed for Mingo National Wildlife Refuge

~ A meeting is scheduled for May 9 at Puxico Elementary School.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation are proposing to stock alligator gar in the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.

"The return of alligator gar to the Mingo basin brings back an integral species to the biological health and vitality of the swamp," said Kathleen Burchett, refuge manager.

Alligator gar are the second-largest fish in North America. They had been present in the Southeast and the Mississippi River until the late 1960s, when over-fishing and loss of habitat reduced their numbers. They can reach up to 9 foot in length and weigh 300 pounds.

"Contrary to popular belief, we believe their presence in Mingo will make sport fishing better," MDC fisheries biologist Chris Kennedy said.

Burchett said fishermen have noticed a decline in sport fishing at Mingo over the last 20 years. Nongame fish such as common carp, gizzard shad, freshwater drum and buffalo spend a majority of their time searching the bottom of the swamp for food, according to an MDC news release. They are often large and numerous.

"Studies show that alligator gar in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas feed primarily on large nongame fish", Kennedy said.

In addition, fishing for alligator gar in those states is now a popular activity, said Kennedy.

"We think the reintroduction of gar will not only help rebalance the fish ecology of Mingo but also provide anglers with a one-of-a-kind fishing opportunity down the line," Kennedy said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Missouri Department of Conservation will present more detailed information on alligator gar at a public meeting 7 p.m. May 9 at the Puxico Elementary School cafeteria building, 481 N. Bedford in Puxico, Mo.

"We hope folks will come to the meeting, listen to the facts, and tell us what they think," Burchett said.

For more information, contact the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge at (573) 222-6343 or the Missouri Department of Conservation at (573) 290-5730.