Researchers recently  the discovery of over 7,000 grass carp eggs in a Lake Erie tributary. The good news? This isn鈥檛 the Asian carp species we鈥檙e trying to  from entering the Great Lakes.

The bad news? Grass carp pose a different threat. 

Asian carp is a catch-all term for four different species of invasive carp: black, grass, silver and bighead. Silver and bighead carp eat plankton that native fish need to survive.

Grass carp feed on vegetation, and Nicole King at the  says that could be dangerous for wetland restoration.

鈥淲etlands are a really important habitat for lots of different fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians,鈥� King says. 鈥淚f these grass carp reach high enough numbers, they could potentially have some serious effects on these wetlands.鈥�

King is part of a multi-agency effort focused on managing the grass carp in Ohio鈥檚 Sandusky River.  Organizations in Michigan, Ohio and Canada are involved.

Rich Carter of the  says that in addition to removing grass carp eggs, they're learning about the life history of the species.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at not only where they鈥檙e spawning and what conditions trigger spawning, but we鈥檙e also looking at opportunities to capture the fish,鈥� he says.

Carter says they used electrical currents in the water to stun fish and nets to capture them. Unlike efforts to prevent , this plan is designed to limit grass carp. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 really an issue of potential to manage this species that鈥檚 been in the system for what we know is a number of years and reproducing in the system,鈥� Carter says.

King says grass carp have been found in the watershed of every Great Lake except for Lake Superior.

 is a collaboration of ideastream Cleveland, WBFO Buffalo and WXXI Rochester.