Fish story

Some male largemouth bass are carring an extra load as they swim around lakes on the Delmarva peninsula.

Eggs.  They carry eggs.

Researchers think the bisexual bass are probably the result of agricultural runoff into the waters where they live, Carolyn Beeler reports in a story that will be featured on NewsWorks Health and Science page.

It’s weird for the fish, sure, but also potentially worrisome for humans.  Because whatever in the water that’s messing up the fish’s gender identity could also be getting into the human food chain.

We know some congressman can be counted on to make fun of any federal dollars spent to study something as oddball as intersex fish.  But we wouldn’t mind seeing a little research money thrown at the question of whether these confused bass are a warning sign to the people who live near those lakes.