Approximately 40-50 people were stranded on ice that broke away from the shore on Upper Red Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota, after strong winds caused the ice to shift. Responders worked to rescue the stranded individuals and emphasized the importance of checking ice thickness before venturing out onto a lake. Last year, over 200 anglers were rescued after a similar incident on Upper Red Lake.
Wildlife officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have captured 323 invasive carp, including silver carp, grass carp, and bighead carp, from the Mississippi River near Trempealeau, Wisconsin. This is the largest single capture of invasive carp in Minnesota to date. The carp, which were imported to the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, have spread north through the Mississippi River, posing a threat to native species and aquatic ecosystems. Efforts are being made to prevent their entry into the Great Lakes and protect the fishing industry.
A deer harvested near Wabasha in southeastern Minnesota has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), prompting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to place the surrounding area under surveillance. The DNR's response plan includes three years of mandatory testing to determine the potential prevalence of the disease. Hunters are required to have their deer tested for CWD during opening weekend of firearms season. Since 2002, the DNR has tested over 130,000 deer, with 236 testing positive for CWD, mostly in southeastern Minnesota.
