Asian Carp Getting Closer to St. Cloud

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota officials say tests have detected signs of Asian carp north of the Coon Rapids dam on the Mississippi River, the last major physical barrier to their spread northward.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris Niskanen confirms that sensitive tests have detected DNA from silver carp in the water above the dam, which is upstream from Minneapolis. DNR officials have scheduled a teleconference for 1 p.m. Thursday to release further details.

Environmental DNA testing previously found indications some silver carp are in the Mississippi downstream from the Ford Dam in Minneapolis and in the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin. But DNR has said the tests don't reveal the possible number of fish present, how big they are and whether they are breeding.

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