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More Football-Sized Goldfish Discovered In Burnsville Lakes, Despite Viral Pleas

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Officials in Minnesota say they're finding more giant goldfish in waterways, prompting a plea to citizens to stop illegally dumping their unwanted fish into ponds and lakes.

The goldfish, which can grow to the size of a football, compete with native species for food and increase algae in lakes.

Burnsville officials found 10 fish in Keller Lake earlier this month while doing a water quality survey. Eighteen more fish were found Monday. Some were 18 inches long and weighed about 4 pounds.

Burnsville issued a plea on Twitter, saying: "Please don't release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes!"

The big goldfish are being captured and killed.

(© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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