The Eel Invasion Has Begun in the Hudson Valley

The first time I learned about what an animal does every year between the Caribbean and the Hudson Valley, it blew my mind. All these years later, it still does.

New Yorkers are no stranger to large migrations. Canadian Geese might be the most famous local example (the mascot for Rondout Valley Central Schools is a gander, after all), but there's an even more impressive journey happening right under our noses.

Glass Eels Migrating to the Hudson Valley

Glass eels, which could easily be mistaken for short, translucent noodles, might not look intimidating, but what they do every year is nothing short of amazing. By sheer force of will, they make a yearly journey that would make Superman tired.

The Great Glass Eel Migration

The eels are born in the warm Caribbean waters in the Atlantic Ocean (below). After building their strength, however, juvenile glass eels make an unbelievable 1,000-mile journey all the way up to the Hudson Valley.

Scenic Hudson and the NYSDEC Track Glass Eels Populations

When the migration is in full swing, more than 10,000 glass eels can be found swimming through the Black Creek Preserve in Esopus, NY each day, according to Scenic Hudson. Their program uses volunteers to monitor, count, and re-release the eels on their journey.

Read More: Is a Mobster’s Treasure Buried in This New York Campground? 

About Glass Eels in the Hudson Valley, NY

Even though the eels are born in the Caribbean, they only spend a brief time in their tropical paradise before journeying north to the Hudson Valley. The eels can live in New York for years before returning to the Sargasso Sea as adults to create the next generation.

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