Editorial: Halt invasive species

Minnesota must take care to avoid becoming the land of 10,000 lakes all ruined by invasive species.

While Asian carp, the latest invader, already has traveled north of Red Wing via the Mississippi River, the fish isn’t established here. That’s good news since the fish are voracious eaters that can easily damage a water’s ecosystem and dramatically reduce native fish populations.

Stopping the carp’s spread is imperative before they become entrenched here and reach other rivers and lakes.

Quick, broad efforts are under way, but individual boaters and anglers must do their part. Clean your boat before moving it to new waters. If you catch a suspicious carp, don’t throw it back. Don’t dump unused bait.

Save those lakes one at a time.

Tags: opinion, editorials