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DNA Of Invasive Asian Carp In Mississippi River

By KBJR News 1

Water samples from the St. Croix River have tested positive for genetic material from silver carp, suggesting the invasive, leaping Asian species may be present in the river as far north as the dam at St. Croix Falls, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

October 20, 2011 Updated Oct 20, 2011 at 11:37 AM CDT

Minneapolis, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) --- Genetic testing indicates that the invasive silver carp may have entered the Mississippi River.

Water samples taken from the Ford Dam in Minneapolis show that invasive Asian carp may be present in that part of the river.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will immediately hire a commercial fisherman to begin searching for Asian carp below the dam.

Officials tested water samples taken from the river in September for signs of DNA of invasive Asian carp. Yet DNA testing gives no indication as to how many carp are in the river, their size, or whether or not they are breeding.

Posted to the web by Alyssa Kroeten

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