Northern pike Facts for Kids

Esox lucius, the Northern Pike

The Northern Pike (Esox lucius) is a cool fish with many nicknames like 'Northern', 'Great Northern Pike', 'Pike', and 'Jack'. Its name even means 'water wolf'! It's a freshwater fish that people enjoy catching, and it's the second biggest member of the Esox (Pike) family. It's also the fish the whole family is named after!

You can find them naturally in North America, especially in Alaska, Canada, and the Upper Midwest of the United States. They also live in Northern Europe and Asia. These fish like cold water and do best in deep lakes. Northern Pikes eat a lot! They need plenty of other fish to grow big and strong. If there are too many Northern Pikes in one place, they might not grow as big because there isn't enough food for everyone.

What Does a Northern Pike Look Like?
Where Do Northern Pikes Live and What Do They Eat?
- Favorite Places to Live
- What They Eat
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What Does a Northern Pike Look Like?

Northern Pikes and Muskellunge look very similar, so people sometimes get them mixed up. Here's how to tell them apart:

Northern Pikes have light-colored markings on a dark body. Muskies have the opposite: dark markings on a light body.
Northern Pikes have rounded tail fins, while Muskies have pointed ones.
Northern Pikes have long bodies and lots of very sharp teeth.
The Northern Pike is the only fish in the pike family with spots on its side that are lighter than its body color.
Another difference is that Northern Pikes have five or fewer pores under their jaw, but Muskies have six or more.

Where Do Northern Pikes Live and What Do They Eat?

Northern Pikes are often found in very shallow water. They love places with lots of weeds and are often seen near fallen logs.

Favorite Places to Live

In early spring, Northern Pikes move to very shallow water. They often lay their eggs in weedy marshes. As the weather gets warmer, they move to deeper water, staying close to the edges of weed beds.

What They Eat

Northern Pikes eat other fish, and they eat a lot of them! They help control other fish species from having too many babies and becoming overpopulated. They are amazing hunters! They wait quietly in ambush and can suddenly rush forward with incredible speed to catch their prey.