Do You Know What The Biggest Predator In The Great Lakes Is?

Michigan is a state surronded by water on both sides, but it's not a state like Florida where you'd have to keep your gaurd up for snakes, gators, and sharks (oh my).

But, with that being said, what exactly is the biggest predator here in the Great Lakes? We aren't talking the biggest in size either. We're talking the top of the food chain big.

Time to discuss.

The Great Lakes Biggest Predator

You won't find much in the way that will leave you wanting to stay out of the waters here in the Great Lakes. The description of the biggest predator in the Great Lakes may drive you to at least do it during the day if anything...

Michigan's biggest predator in the Great Lakes is a Sea Lamprey.

In the very famous words of Randy Jackson, "it's going to be a no for me dawg."

What Is A Sea Lamprey?

Sea Lamprey's are primarley found in the Great Lakes and Canada regions. A sea lamprey will attach onto a fish, and start feeding on their blood and body fluids.They're basically the vampires of the sea world.

Their biggest go to food is the lake trout for sea lampreys, however, walleyes, and sturgeon are also incldued in their diets.

Sea lamprey are capable of killing nearly 40 pounds of fish over 12-18 months as well. The sea lamprey isn't something small either. They can grow up to 20 inches in length, so it's not something you wouldn't see. A female can lay up to 100,000 eggs as well. You can now understand why the species is so invasive.

As seen above as well, sea lamprey, have many teeth as well as a a razor sharp tounge... you can see why they have a hankering for blood.

The face alone, is that only its mother could love, so you could understand the Randy Jackson shout out above.

How Did Sea Lampreys Land in the Great Lakes?

The lampreys weren't originally found in all of the great lakes, they were mainly only observed in Lake Ontario. It wasn't until the construction of the Welland Canal, did it open up the possibility for the lampreys to spread to all five of the great lakes.

Make it known too, they are a menace to boaters and fishermen. The lampreys did a devistating total to the once thriving fisheries that were in Michigan.