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Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

Fish · family Esocidae · order Esociformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
15 states[3]
Longest recorded life
30 years[4]

The muskellunge is a fish in the family Esocidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide and in the United States, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the muskellunge a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. At the state level, ranks vary. Indiana and Vermont have the lowest state ranks listed, while Wisconsin has the highest[8]. NatureServe estimates 100,000 to >1,000,000 adults worldwide, and the recent trend is uncertain but likely fairly stable[9][10].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Muskellunge lives

NatureServe lists the muskellunge as native in 15 US states and territories, including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia[3]. It is listed as introduced, not native, in Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Dakota and Virginia[11]. A list like this shows where NatureServe records the fish[3].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank SNRMEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S1VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank SNRNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNANDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: introduced, state rank SNAILMichigan: native, state rank S4MINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: introduced, state rank SNASDIowa: native, state rank S3IAIndiana: native, state rank S1INOhio: native, state rank S3OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: introduced, state rank SNANJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: introduced, state rank SNANEMissouri: introduced, state rank SNAMOKentucky: native, state rank S4KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S4WVVirginia: introduced, state rank SNAVAMaryland: introduced, state rank SNAMDDelaware: introduced, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: introduced, state rank SNAARTennessee: native, state rank S3TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S3NCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: introduced, state rank SNADCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: introduced, state rank SNAGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (28 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasSNANot Applicable
DelawareSNANot Applicable
District of ColumbiaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
IndianaS1Critically Imperiled
IowaS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS4Apparently Secure
MaineSNRNot Ranked
MarylandSNANot Applicable
MichiganS4Apparently Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MissouriSNANot Applicable
NebraskaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireSNRNot Ranked
New JerseySNANot Applicable
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS3Vulnerable
North DakotaSNANot Applicable
OhioS3Vulnerable
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
South DakotaSNANot Applicable
TennesseeS3Vulnerable
VermontS1Critically Imperiled
VirginiaSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS4Apparently Secure
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records wetlands, rivers of several sizes, creeks, pools and shallow water as habitat[12]. The notes describe warm lakes and bays with lots of plants, plus pools and backwaters of streams and rivers[13]. Spawning, which is egg laying, happens in flooded, plant-filled spots less than 1 meter deep[13]. The eggs sink and stick to the bottom or to plants[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Young muskellunge start out eating tiny floating animals called zooplankton, and later switch to fishes and other animals with backbones[14]. Adults are recorded as carnivores that eat fish and invertebrates[15]. NatureServe gives a typical length of 164 cm (65 in)[16]. The fish spawns in spring and lays two clutches of eggs per year[17]. Eggs hatch in 1 to 2 weeks, and the young are mature in 3 to 5 years[17]. The longest recorded lifespan is 30 years in the wild[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 164 cm (65 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 30 years (wild)
Female maturity[18] 1,825 days (about 5.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore
Migration[19] local migrant

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the muskellunge a local migrant, and populations can differ[19]. Some fish may move 40 km or more between places where they spawn and places where they do not[20]. It spawns in spring[17]. Online observation records on GBIF are highest in December, June and July[21]. These records show when people look and report, not how many fish there are[21].

January: 15 recordsJanFebruary: 13 recordsFebMarch: 19 recordsMarApril: 47 recordsAprMay: 81 recordsMayJune: 109 recordsJunJuly: 101 recordsJulAugust: 84 recordsAugSeptember: 73 recordsSepOctober: 54 recordsOctNovember: 27 recordsNovDecember: 186 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January15
February13
March19
April47
May81
June109
July101
August84
September73
October54
November27
December186

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Muskellunge as present in 12 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey[23]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the muskellunge endangered?
No. It is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6].
Where does the muskellunge live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 15 US states and territories, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania[3]. It is listed as introduced in other states, such as Georgia and Virginia[11].
What does the muskellunge eat?
Young fish eat zooplankton, then switch to fishes and other animals with backbones[14]. Adults are recorded as carnivores that eat fish and invertebrates[15].
How big is a muskellunge?
NatureServe records a typical length of 164 cm (65 in)[16].
How long does a muskellunge live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 30 years in the wild[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Muskellunge is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Muskellunge: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Muskellunge as native in 15 US states and territories: Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 30 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is a fish in the family Esocidae, order Esociformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Muskellunge (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on trend for Muskellunge. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe lists Muskellunge as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Dakota, Virginia. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Muskellunge: Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Muskellunge. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Muskellunge. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 164 cm (65 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Muskellunge. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,825 days (about 5.0 years). AnAge
  19. NatureServe migration category for Muskellunge: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on migration for Muskellunge. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Muskellunge in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Muskellunge as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  23. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Muskellunge: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.