Editing Northern pike (section)

==Habitat==
[[File:Hecht im Sundhäuser See.jpg|thumb|A pike in its natural habitat in Germany]]

Pike are found in sluggish streams and shallow, weedy places in lakes and reservoirs, as well as in cold, clear, rocky waters. They are typical [[ambush predator]]s; they lie in wait for prey, holding perfectly still for long periods, and then exhibit remarkable acceleration as they strike. They inhabit any water body that contains fish, but suitable places for spawning are also essential. Because of their cannibalistic nature, young pike need places where they can take shelter between plants so they are not eaten. In both cases, rich submerged vegetation is needed. Pike are seldom found in brackish water, except for the [[Baltic Sea]] area, here they can be found spending time both in the mouths of rivers and in the open brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. It is normal for pike to return to fresh water after a period in these brackish waters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://globalflyfisher.com/global-reports/salty-pike|title=Salty pike|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref> They seem to prefer water with less [[turbidity]], but that is likely related to their dependence on the presence of vegetation.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

===Geographic distribution===
[[File:Haukipudas.vaakuna.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Three northern pikes pictured in the coat of arms of [[Haukipudas]], a former municipality of [[North Ostrobothnia]], [[Finland]]]]
''Esox lucius'' is found in fresh water throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including [[Russia]], [[Europe]], and [[North America]]. It has also been introduced to lakes in [[Morocco]], and is even found in brackish water of the [[Baltic Sea]], but they are confined to the low-salinity water at the surface of the sea, and are seldom seen in brackish water elsewhere.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Within North America, northern pike populations are found in [[Maine]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Vermont]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Rhode Island]], [[Connecticut]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[New Jersey]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Maryland]], [[West Virginia]], [[Ohio]], [[Michigan]], [[Indiana]], [[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Minnesota]], [[Iowa]], [[Missouri]], [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Nebraska]], [[Kansas]], [[Montana]], [[Idaho]], [[Utah]], [[Colorado]], [[Oklahoma]], northern [[Texas]], northern [[New Mexico]], northern [[Arizona]], [[Alaska]], the [[Yukon]], the [[Northwest Territories]], [[Alberta]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Manitoba]], [[Ontario]], and [[Québec]] (pike are rare in [[British Columbia]] and east coast provinces). Watersheds in which pike are found include the [[Ohio River|Ohio Valley]], the [[upper Mississippi River]] and its tributaries, and the [[Great Lakes Basin]]. They are also stocked in, or have been introduced to, some western lakes and reservoirs for sport fishing, although some fisheries managers believe this practice often threatens other species of fish such as [[Bass (fish)|bass]], [[trout]], and [[salmon]], causing government agencies to attempt to exterminate the pike by poisoning lakes, such as [[Stormy Lake, Alaska]].<ref>{{cite news
 | last = Young
 | first = Samantha
 | title = Calif. Aims to Rid Lake of Northern Pike
 | agency = Associated Press
 | date = 26 September 2007
 | url = http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PIKE_POISONING
 | access-date = 27 September 2007 }}</ref> ''E. lucius'' is a severe [[invasive species|invasive]] predator in [[Box Canyon Dam (Washington)|Box Canyon Reservoir]] on the [[Pend Oreille River]] in northeastern [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref name="WDF" />