Gar Week 2025
Monday to Friday, November 3–7, 2025
Move over, sharks—it’s time to celebrate a fish that’s part alligator, part time traveler. For the fourth year in a row, CFANS faculty member Solomon David (Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology), in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, to lead Gar Week—a social media celebration of one of nature’s most fascinating (and misunderstood) fish.
Yes, gar live right here in Minnesota! Species like the longnose gar cruise our lakes and rivers as top predators, keeping ecosystems in balance. Known as “living fossils,” gar have been around for over 100 million years—long before T. rex showed up.
Gar Week is your chance to:
- 🐊 Learn about a Minnesota native apex predator — with armor-like scales and snouts built for hunting
- 🧬 Discover their superpowers — including efficient DNA repair and the ability to gulp air
- 🌊 Explore the science — from conservation research to how invasive species threaten native fish
- 🎨 Enjoy the fun side — gar puns, memes, and fan art from across the country
Like National Geographic’s Shark Week, but with freshwater flair, Gar Week brings together agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, science communicators, and fish-loving fans to share why gar matter.
To dive in, follow #garweek on Instagram, Blue Sky, or X (formerly Twitter), and share your own fish story, pun, or art!
