Colorado's Teller Lake Threatened by Harmless Goldfish

Usually kept as pets, goldfish are now an invasive species, threatening aquatic life in Teller Lake, Colorado.

Colorado wildlife officials are worried that the fish could lead to destruction of native species by exploiting resources, and disturbing the local ecosystem. Goldfish numbers began multiplying after a few fish were released in recent years. Now authorities estimate 3,000 to 4,000 goldfish in the lake. Being a non-native species, authorities worry about disease that could affect other species.

"Dumping your pets into a lake could bring diseases to native animals and plants as well as out-compete them for resources. Everything can be affected. Non-native species can potentially wipe out the fishery as we've put it together," Jennifer Churchill, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) told ABC News.

To tackle the problem, authorities are contemplating two options. They could stun the goldfish fish and rehabilitate them, or simply drain the lake to recreate its original ecological composition.

Though a few people have come forward to adopt some of the fish as pets, the authorities are apprehensive that the problem could resurface if they are abandoned in the future.

"I'm going to talk to Boulder County, who owns the lake to see what they think, but I don't want to send the message that collecting fish for personal fun is okay," Churchill said.