SPOKANE, Wash. — If you have a pet goldfish, but are starting to get overwhelmed with taking care of it, don’t just dump it in a local pond.
According to Spokane officials, illegal goldfish dumping in Manito Park’s Mirror Pond is harming the park’s ecosystem, but two local Girl Scouts are leading a cleanup effort to help restore balance.
Despite posted signs warning against it, people continue to release goldfish into Mirror Pond year-round. The goldfish, considered an invasive species, rarely survive long in the pond and create problems for both maintenance crews and native wildlife.
“They’re invasive, they’re not where they’re supposed to be,” said Riley Drake, a Girl Scout who, along with fellow Scout Addilyn O’Doherty, launched the Saffron Ponds Harmony Project last spring. The pair has been working to clean the pond and raise awareness about the issue.
“They’re causing the pond to be murkier because they stir up the sediment at the bottom when they eat,” O’Doherty said. “They’re a harm to local wildlife because they can carry multiple different diseases and they’re not meant to be in ponds.”
The Girl Scouts’ project not only removes goldfish from the pond, but also seeks to find them new homes to prevent their return.
“A big part of the project is spreading the word and educating the population on this problem, because it’s not usually a problem that a lot of people think about,” said Drake.
The effort has drawn community support and made a noticeable difference, according to the Manito Park foreman.
For more information on the Saffron Ponds Harmony Project, click here.
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