Agencies on the lookout after Asian carp DNA found in Western Lake Erie

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is actively searching for live Asian carp in Lake Erie and the Maumee River after water samples collected by state and federal agencies revealed Asian carp environmental DNA, according to an ODNR press release.

So far, the agencies have not caught any bighead or silver carp, which would prove their existence in Lake Erie.

It is possible that the eDNA was transferred by a boat, storm sewers, or a fish-eating bird. Still, the threat of Asian carp decimating ecosystems has agencies on alert.

The release reports that eDNA was found between July 31 and August 4 in water samples collected by ODNR, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources encourages Lake Erie anglers to save, document and report any Asian carp they catch.

Image: Silver carp (Credit: USGS)