Dreaded bighead carp found in Rock River The 'bad, bad fish' is known to hurt habitat

ROCKFORD, Ill. -- An Asian bighead carp -- an invasive speciesthat can compete with native fish and hurt habitat -- has been caughtin the Rock River, according to the Illinois Department of NaturalResources.

Dan Sallee, a DNR spokesman, said Monday it is the first time thespecies has been found in the waterway before it feeds into theMississippi River. The 285-mile Rock River begins in several lakes insoutheastern Wisconsin and flows south into the Mississippi Riverbelow Rock Island.

"I don't want to see new water contaminated with this bad, badfish," Sallee told the Rockford Register Star.

A fisherman caught the carp on …