Remember: That “Shallow Water” May in Fact be a Chilean Fox-Snake

With lakeside renovations along Parkside Avenue now nearly finished, the Prospect Park Alliance’s Visitor’s Bureau has offered a cautious reminder: while much of the lakeside shore may appear shallow, that could also be the work of a nguruvilu, the underwater snake-like foxes that have taken up residence there.

Nguruvilus, native to the lowlands of Chile but thought to have been imported into the New York area aboard Chilean copper ships in the 1960′s, are able to give deep water the illusion of being shallow and welcoming.

“The exact mechanism of the illusion is unknown, but we do know that it’s for hunting purposes” explained Park aqua-cryptozoologist Roberto Espinoza, “They lure you in that way. You may think you’re wading into just a few inches of water to cool your feet, when in fact you’re stepping into water much deeper than you’re able to handle.”

While adequate swimmers are often able to rescue themselves, Espinoza recommends warm-weather water play at the LeFrak Skating Center instead