By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Young Harris College students are working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to sample a state-endangered fish in Brasstown Creek, the Sicklefin Redhorse, known by the Cherokee Indians for its unique appearance.
Nicknamed for its large, crested dorsal fin, its name in the Cherokee language translates roughly to “wearing a feather.”
Led by Dr. Bobby Davis, professor of biology at YHC, the students assisted the DNR with their annual survey. Though endangered, the fish are migrating to spawn in tributaries of the Hiawassee River, like Brasstown Creek. Found primarily in North Carolina in the Little Tennessee River, the Redhorse is found rarely in the Nottely River as well as the Hiawassee. Populations of these fish are threatened due to dam construction.
“This was a great opportunity for the students to work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to sample the fish in Brasstown Creek,” Davis said. “We are working with Tiffany Penland, with the Georgia DNR, to ensure we follow appropriate sampling protocols. The Sicklefin Redhorse, Moxostoma ugidatli, was once an important food source for the Cherokee. Unfortunately, now it’s endangered.”
Known for its unique dorsal fin, the fish can be large, sometime exceeding 25 inches in length. The Redhorse migrate upstream to spawn in the spring once the mountain creeks in Georgia and North Carolina reach the right temperature. Barriers to migrations, in most cases, dams, have led to the population struggles for the fish.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 33 majors and 24 minors housed under twelve academic departments. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential, master’s degree, and Early College programs.
