Zebra Mussels

Unfortunately, zebra mussels were found in Pelican Lake last fall.  Zebra mussels are an invasive species that has been spread throughout Minnesota Lakes , including Mille Lacs and the Alexandria area lakes.   Zebra mussels are ¼ to 1 ½ inches long and are D-shaped with alternating black and brown stripes. Zebra mussels are tricky to find when they are larvae, because they are not visible to the naked eye.  The larvae can live in your live well if there is water there, and then spread into other lakes.  Zebra mussels can attach to hard surfaces such as boat lifts and docks and clog water intake pipes.

Unfortunately, there is no remedy for Zebra mussels.  There is no chemical treatment available to control them.  The best we can do is prevent them from spreading to other area lakes.

There are some new regulations that apply to Pelican Lake now that it contains zebra mussels (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/invasives/laws.html):

·     taking wild animals (fish, frogs, crayfish, etc.) from infested waters for bait or aquatic farms is prohibited;

·     equipment used for commercial fishing purposes in infested waters must be dried or frozen before it can be used in noninfested waters (misdemeanor);

·     water from infested waters may not be used to transport fish except by permit;

·     persons leaving infested waters that contain populations of spiny waterflea or zebra mussels must drain bait containers, other boating-related equipment (excluding marine sanitary systems) that holds water, and livewells and bilges by removing the drain plug before transporting the watercraft and associated equipment on public roads ($50 civil penalty or misdemeanor);

·     water from infested waters may not be transported on a public road or off riparian property on infested waters except in emergencies or under permit ($200 civil penalty or misdemeanor).

Is your boat protected against zebra mussels?

Do you know what to do? Unfortunately, some boat owners will see and feel the damage caused by zebra mussels first hand. Their boat hulls can be damaged and their motors can overheat because they do not know how to minimize the impacts zebra mussels can cause. These small invasive mussels attach to hard surfaces including boats and motors! There are simple and proactive steps owners may implement to protect their investment and prevent the spread of invasive species into more of Minnesota's waters.

Proper boat hull, engine maintenance and cleaning are key to saving thousands of dollars in repair costs resulting from damage caused by zebra mussels. Juvenile and adult zebra mussels have the ability to attach to many different types of substrate including fiberglass, aluminum, wood, and steel. This ability to attach decreases fuel efficiency and damages the boat’s finish. Their larvae (called veligers) are extremely small – too small to see without a microscope. When veligers are present in the water they can be drawn into engine passages or can move into them on their own. Once they settle out in the engine cooling system, they can grow into adults and may block intake screens, internal passages, hoses, seacocks, and strainers. The best ways in which boat owners may avoid this type of damage are:

·         Use a boatlift to completely remove the watercraft from the water.

·         Use your boat. If boats are left moored in zebra mussel infested waters run the engine at least twice a week at slow speeds (about 4-½ mph) for 10 to 15 minutes. The hot water will kill the zebra mussels in your engine’s cooling systems. Keep an eye on your engine temperatures – if you notice an increase, it may mean that zebra mussels are clogging your cooling system.

·         Lift the motor out of the water between uses if mooring. By lifting the motor out of the water you will reduce the chances of zebra mussels colonizing the intake grate.

·         Tip down the motor and discharge the water when leaving a waterbody. This will reduce the chances of zebra mussels being carried to a new location in the trapped water.

·         Motor “muffs”, also known as motor flushers, are another tool designed to remove zebra mussels and other materials from your boat engine or personal watercraft. Motor “muffs” flush away soil particles and other foreign materials, preventing clogging, corrosion and helping to extend the life of your engine.

·         Rinse boat and equipment. Adult zebra mussels should be removed from your boat, trailer, and equipment by hand (whenever possible) and discarded in the trash before rinsing the boat. Boats and equipment may be pressure washed to remove veligers and juvenile zebra mussels.

·         Apply antifouling paints to the hull and the engine’s cooling system. In-line strainers can also be installed in the engines cooling system.

Adult zebra mussels can be carried to new water bodies when attached to boats and plant fragments.

Veligers can be transported in water.

Please take the following steps to prevent the transport of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species to new waters:

·         Inspect and remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from your boat, trailer, and equipment.

·         Drain all water from your motor, livewell, bilge, transom, etc.

·         Dispose of unused bait in the trash.

·         Wash your boat and equipment with hot and/or high pressure water, particularly if moored for more than one day, OR

·         Dry your boat and equipment thoroughly (in the sun) for five days.

Information Sources: Minnesota DNR, Wisconsin DNR