Wildlife biologists find endangered fish in NC

RALEIGH — A federally endangered fish believed to exist only in two river basins in Virginia has been discovered in North Carolina.

The Roanoke logperch, one of the largest darters in the Perch family, was thought to live only in portions of the Roanoke and Chowan River basins. Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the Division of Water Quality and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences found two populations of the fish in the Mayo and Smith rivers last July.

With the findings, the commission said biologists will look at the two populations to determine how extensive and healthy they are. They will also look at other rivers with similar habitat for more undiscovered Roanoke logperches.

Gathering as much information as possible will aid biologists in future management and help guide restoration efforts.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)