Alberta Parks and Environment is dealing with invasive species in the Calgary and area water bodies.

 According to Nicole Kimmel, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist for Alberta Environment and Parks the problem of invasive species has always been an issue but now the limelight is shown on aquatic invasive species. 

"We are worried about things being transferred on boats, the pet industry and horticultor." 

Kimmel also says that Calgary and the surrounding area are facing a problem of orange origins. 

"There are many species in the area you could see, people are dumping their goldfish into stormwater ponds."

Alberta Parks and Environment says that they are tracking the problem of invasive goldfish all across the province and the fish can survive in the water through the winter.

Kimmel says the fish can survive in a variety of habitats.

"These fish are very adaptable and eat anything they can fit in their mouths, the basically grow to the size of the water body. Sometimes their head remains small but their body will keep growing and growing."

Once they receive a report of goldfish in water bodies they examine the body and use a variety of methods to get rid of the fish such as a pesticide, or draining the stormwater pond to the ground.

Alberta Parks and Environment are running two campaigns in hopes of people with clean, drain, dry their equipment to help reduce the spread of invasive species. 

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