Bozeman ponds face invasive species threat from released pet goldfish and turtles

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Local ponds and waterways are facing a growing problem as household pets are being released into the wild.

Goldfish, red-eared sliders and other pets are showing up in Bozeman's aquatic environments. When these household pets are introduced into the wild, they can become invasive species.

These animals often spread disease and compete with native wildlife for food and other resources.

The Montana Invasive Species Council is funding a series of aquatic pet re-homing events to address this problem. Their fourth event in this series will take place next month.

Pet owners who can no longer take care of their aquatic animals are being urged not to release them into local waterways. Instead, they can drop off their pets for free at Montana State University.

The re-homing event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 28.