One of the apex predators of the freshwater world, northern pike slink through aquatic vegetation to stalk their prey by day. But they don’t depend on fully on their vision; even a blind northern, using lateral line sense, can keep itself fed by detecting vibrations of their swimming prey. They will eat just about anything up to a third its length that will fit down its throat: fish, frogs, crayfish, mice, rats, snakes, even ducks and other waterfowl. As any fisherman who has failed to use a pliers to remove a hook from its throat knows, the wicked teeth that make up a northern’s grin are only the start of the pain for its prey—the entire inside of the fish’s mouth and throat is studded with sharp, downward pointing teeth that can shred anything that tries to come back out the mouth, including human hands.