Yellow perch
Perca flavescens
Where at Shedd?
At Home on the Great Lakes
| Diet | Immature insects, larger invertebrates, fishes and fish eggs |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: Up to 20 inches (50 cm); common length 7.5 inches (19.1 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | North America |
| Habitat | Clear waters of lakes, ponds and rivers from central to eastern Canada, south to Nebraska; widely introduced |
Did you know?
- Yellow perch sits in the middle of its food chain—between prey (small fishes, crayfish, insect larvae) and predators (pike, bass, walleye, herons, cormorants).
- Lake Michigan’s yellow perch fishery declined in the 1960s due to overharvesting and invasive species. Today, most yellow perch are caught in Lake Erie.
- You can recognize a yellow perch by its black stripes. How many stripes can you count on each fish?
- Yellow perch are on Shedd’s Right Bite list—a “Best Choice” for sustainable seafood! Check shedd.org to download a copy of the list.