Asian Carp Found in Chicago Park Lagoon

Two large bighead carp have been discovered in a lagoon of Chicago’s Garfield Park.

The Chicago Sun-Times says the fish “were about 60 pounds apiece and probably have been there for many years, perhaps brought there when the pond was stocked or by a fisherman’s bait bucket, state Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris McCloud said.”

The newspaper also says that the lagoon isn’t connected to Lake Michigan or canals that connect the lake to the Illinois River.

That does not re-assure me. These fish were introduced by people, perhaps intentionally, as happened with snakeheads on the East Coast. If people put them in this lagoon, they also can release them into the Great Lakes or any other number of waters.

Read the full story here.