GarLab

Official account of #GarLab at the University of Minnesota. Fish, conservation, #SciComm. Authored by PI @SolomonRDavid and team.

[GarLab @TheGarLab]

Happy Gar Week everyone! You might be wondering, what is a gar? Well, let us show you...

#GarWeek #Conservation #Fisheries #GarLab #Garology #FishSciComm #Scicomm @SolomonRDavid

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

GAR WEEK 2026 is coming!!!

#GarWeek with @OKWildlifeDept @TheGarLab (and YOU) is November 16-20, 2026!

Offishal Trailer here👇

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

#GarWeek will indeed be November 16-20 this year!

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Native rough fish research enlists Minnesota anglers https://t.co/6XyVkRGzsr

St. Paul — Researchers are harnessing the help of Minnesota anglers to gather data on native rough fish populations while educating the public about these species. @TheGarLab

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Trash fish? More like some of the oldest — and most important — species in Minnesota
@MNReformer https://t.co/7kMxStnPg8

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Minnesota waters are full of ancient fish ― and the science behind them is pretty cool https://t.co/bsPxhpvdv0 @TheGarLab @StarTribune

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

On the importance of “native rough fish” in Minnesota and to aquatic ecosystems overall👍 https://t.co/Jb9YU3sZQu

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

In Pursuit of Alligator Gar, the Ancient Giant of the Shallows

New @gardenandgun: https://t.co/UiC9Cnn3Ws

[Andrew Rypel @andrewrypel]

We back y'all! 👇🐟💙🧡🦅

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

And that’s a wrap on 2025 @TheGarLab!

GARgantuan thanks to our students, collaborators, and friends for their ongoing work and support of our freshwater conservation efforts!

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

BIGGEST Longnose Gar for @TheGarLab team!

At 60.5 inches (154 cm), it’s a true giant for the species.
Caught-tagged-released, it will help us learn more about river-floodplain connectivity👍

I’m aiming the fish toward our collaborators’ sonar, so we can track/measure it!

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Outlook in Minnesota with impending snowstorm 🥶

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Guess how big these two Alligator Gars were?

Sorry not sorry 😅

[🇺🇸 Brian C. Lambeth @BrianCLambeth]

@SolomonRDavid @TheGarLab Bob Seegar, Gar Brooks, Simon and Gar are personal favorites.

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Friend and native fish angler extraordinaire @moxostoma made this and I needed to add it to the list! 😂👍

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

“When Did You Get Caught?”

Here’s @TheGarLab’s Spotify Wrapped list, let us know if there are any gartists that we missed 👀

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Agar: Science or Magic?

Thoughts @OKWildlifeDept?

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Spotted Gars think they’re salmon swimming upstream😂

Most gars do in fact migrate to spawn, typically from rivers & lakes to adjacent floodplains.

Some gars, however, swim upstream to spawn. Unlike salmon, gars don’t die after spawning, and often return annually.
🎥 D.McDonald

[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service @USFWS]

Smile!

The alligator gar is among the largest freshwater fish in North America. They may grow up to 10 feet and weigh more than 300lbs. These fish are found in the southeast in freshwater lakes and brackish marshes, estuaries and bays along the Gulf coast.

📸Ryan Hagerty/USFWS

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

“Why not both Steve?”
Check out our episode @MeatEaterTV chatting gars and native fish conservation with host Steve Rinella!
https://t.co/ycqZ29EdFi

[Dr. Solomon David @SolomonRDavid]

Hey @OKWildlifeDept, we broke out the Fishmas decGARations over the weekend! 🐠🎄