Home/Species/ Northern Pike

Esox lucius

Linnaeus, 1758

Northern Pike

G5Secure Found in 17 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102929

Element CodeAFCHD01020

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassActinopterygii

OrderEsociformes

FamilyEsocidae

GenusEsox

Other Common Names

Grand brochet (FR)

Concept Reference

Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.

Taxonomic Comments

May hybridize with other esocids (e.g., where pike introduced).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2015-08-17

Change Date1996-09-13

Edition Date2011-12-01

Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.

Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences> 300

Range Extent Comments

Range is Holarctic and includes the Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific, Great Lakes, and Mississippi River basins from Alaska to Labrador, south to Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Nebraska (Page and Burr 2011). This species has been introduced in many areas southward of the native range.

Occurrences Comments

This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations).

Threat Impact Comments

No major threats are known.

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This fish usually occurs in clear small lakes, shallow vegetated areas of larger lakes, marshes, creeks, and small to large rivers. It moves to deeper cooler water in summer. Spawning occurs in shallow flooded marshes associated with lakes, inlet streams to those lakes (or flooded terrestrial vegetation at reservoir edge), or rivers; spawning habitat is basically a flooded area with emergent vegetation (optimally over short grasses or sedges). Young remain in spawning habitat for several weeks after hatching.

Ecology

Adults solitary except at spawning. Evidence from New England indicates that landlocked populations of Atlantic salmon may be negatively influenced as abundance of northern pike and/or ESOX hybrids increases.

Reproduction

Spawns in spring as soon as ice begins to break up. Produces a single clutch per year. Eggs hatch in 12-14 days at typically prevailing temperatures. Males sexually mature at 1-2 years in south, at age 5 in north; females mature at 2-3 years in south, at age 6 in north.

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLAND

Other Nations (2)

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Ontario	S5	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Labrador	S5	Yes
Yukon Territory	S5	Yes
Manitoba	S5	Yes
Alberta	S5	Yes
Northwest Territories	S4	Yes
Nunavut	S4	Yes
Saskatchewan	S5	Yes
Quebec	S4	Yes

United StatesN5

Province	Rank	Native
Massachusetts	SNA	No
Michigan	S5	Yes
Virginia	SNA	No
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
Vermont	S4	Yes
New Mexico	SNA	No
Oklahoma	SNA	No
Nebraska	S4	Yes
Arkansas	SNA	No
West Virginia	SNA	No
Georgia	SNA	No
South Dakota	S5	Yes
Utah	SNA	No
Tennessee	SNA	No
New Jersey	SNA	No
Navajo Nation	SNA	No
Indiana	S4	Yes
Connecticut	SNA	No
Pennsylvania	S4	Yes
Arizona	SNA	No
Colorado	SNA	No
Kentucky	SNA	No
Kansas	SNA	No
Wisconsin	S5	Yes
Idaho	SNA	No
District of Columbia	SNA	No
Montana	SU	Yes
Nevada	SNA	No
Rhode Island	SNA	No
Missouri	S4	Yes
North Carolina	SNA	No
Iowa	S5	Yes
North Dakota	SNR	Yes
Wyoming	SNA	No
New York	S5	Yes
Maine	SNA	No
Ohio	S4	Yes
Alaska	SNA	No
Illinois	S2	Yes
New Hampshire	SNA	No
Washington	SNA	No
Texas	SNA	No
Maryland	SNA	No

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
No known threats	—	—	—

Roadless Areas (17)

Colorado (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Long Park	Routt NF	42,100

Minnesota (5)

Area	Forest	Acres
Baker - Homer - Brule Lakes	Superior National Forest	6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle Mountain	Superior National Forest	12,380
Cabin Creek	Superior National Forest	6,071
Kawishiwi Lake To Sawbill	Superior National Forest	15,305
Wood Lake	Superior National Forest	596

Montana (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lolo National Forest	118,485
Cherry Peak	Lolo National Forest	37,862
Cube Iron - Silcox	Lolo National Forest	36,998
Huckleberry Mountain #699	Kootenai National Forest	8,965
North Siegel	Lolo National Forest	9,208
Scotchman Peaks (MT)	Kootenai National Forest	53,909

Pennsylvania (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Allegheny Front	Allegheny National Forest	7,430

Vermont (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Griffith Lake 09084	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,833

Virginia (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Gum Run	George Washington National Forest	12,620
Skidmore	George Washington National Forest	5,641

West Virginia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Dry River (WV)	George Washington National Forest	7,331

References (28)

Becker, G. C. 1983. Fishes of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 1,052 pp.
Buss, K. 1961b. A literature survey of the life history and culture of the northern pike. Pennsylvania Fish Commission Benner Spring Fisheries Research Station Special Purpose Report. 58 pp.
Carbine, W.F. 1942. Observations on the life history of the northern pike, Esox lucius L., in Houghton Lake, Michigan. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 71(1941):149-164.
Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park. 243 pp.
Cox, Kenneth M. (District Fisheries Biologist, VT Department of Fish and Wildlife). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
Crossman, E. J., and J. M. Casselman. 1987. An annotated bibliography of the pike, Esox lucius (Osteichthyes: Salmoniformes). Royal Ontario Mus. 408 pp.
Fago, D. 2000. Relative abundance and distribution of fishes in Wisconsin. Fish Distribution Database to year 2000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Harlan, J. R., E. B. Speaker, and J. Mayhew. 1987. Iowa fish and fishing. Iowa Conservation Commission, Des Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.
Holton, G. D. and H. E. Johnson. 2003. A field guide to Montana fishes, 3rd Edition. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Helena, MT.
Hrabik, Robert A. (Missouri Department of Conservation). 1997. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Ruth Mathews, TNC. May 1997.
Lang, Nicholas (Illinois Natural History Survey). 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.
Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. i-x + 854 pp.
Nelson, J. S., E. J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Perez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 29, Bethesda, Maryland. 386 pp.
Owen, J. B., D. S. Elsen and G. W. Russell. 1981. Distribution of fishes in North and South Dakota basins affected by the Garrison Diversion Unit. University of North Dakota Press, Grand Forks, North Dakota. 211 pp.
Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes: North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. 432 pp.
Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 2011. Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. xix + 663 pp.
Page, L. M., H. Espinosa-Pérez, L. T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, R. L. Mayden, and J. S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seventh edition. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda, Maryland.
Page, L. M., K. E. Bemis, T. E. Dowling, H.S. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C. R. Gilbert, K. E. Hartel, R. N. Lea, N. E. Mandrak, M. A. Neigbors, J. J. Schmitter-Soto, and H. J. Walker, Jr. 2023. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Eighth edition. American Fisheries Society (AFS), Special Publication 37, Bethesda, Maryland, 439 pp.
Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation. Columbia, Missouri. viii + 343 pp.
Raat, A. J. P. 1988. Synopsis of biological data on the northern pike Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 30 Rev. 2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 178 pp.
Robins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 184. 966 pp.
Smith, C. L. 1983. Fishes of New York (maps and printout of a draft section on scarce fishes of New York). Unpublished draft.
Smith, P. W. 1979. The fishes of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 314 pp.
Sublette, J. E., M. D Hatch, and M. Sublette. 1990. The fishes of New Mexico. University New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 393 pp.
Threinen, C. W., C. Wistrom, B. Apelgren, and H. Snow. 1966. The northern pike, life history, ecology, and management. Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. No. 235. 16 pp.
Trautman, M. B. 1981. The fishes of Ohio. Second edition. Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio. 782 pp.
Whittier, Thomas R. 2000. Review and annotation of fish watershed distribution maps. Review requested by Anthony E. Zammit, ABI. March 2000.

Esox lucius

Habitat

Ecology

Reproduction

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