You’ve heard of cocaine bears, maybe even those wired sharks… but now? Cocaine salmon.
Researchers found traces of cocaine getting into rivers and lakes—basically making their way from us… to them. And once it hits the salmon, things get weird. The fish start swimming farther, acting bolder, eating differently—basically like they’ve got somewhere to be and no idea why.
In one study, scientists actually tracked salmon that were exposed to small amounts of cocaine and its byproduct. The result? The drugged fish swam miles farther than the others—like, noticeably more—and wandered into riskier territory, which is not a great survival strategy when predators are involved.
And here’s the kicker: the leftover chemical cocaine turns into had an even bigger impact than the drug itself. So it’s not just what’s going in… it’s what it becomes.
Long-term? Scientists aren’t totally sure what this means, but “nothing good” seems to be the working theory. Between this and methy trout and antidepressant-laced perch, our waterways are starting to sound less like ecosystems… and more like a pharmacy with fins.
More regarding our wild waterways HERE!