Enjoying the great outdoors is important to many. Boating, fishing, hunting and wildlife watching are traditions that we want to preserve. Today, these traditions are at risk. Aquatic invaders such as round goby, zebra mussels, purple loosestrife, Eurasian water milfoil, bighead and silver carp, and New Zealand mud snail threaten valuable waters and recreation.  

These and other non-native, or exotic, plants and animals do not naturally occur in our waters and are called invasive species because they cause ecological or economic harm.

The main way invasive species get into lakes, rivers, and wetlands is by “hitching” rides with anglers, boaters, and other outdoor receptionists. If we leave a body of water without taking recommended precautions, we may be transporting these harmful species from one lake, river, or wetland to another.

Aquatic hitchhikers can spread in many ways such as aquatic plants, on recreational equipment, and in water. There are a few simple actions we can take to prevent them from spreading:

• Inspect your boat, trailer, and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals and mud before leaving the water access. Carefully remove all plant fragments before the leaving the access area to reduce the threat of moving zebra mussels that hitchhike by attaching to aquatic plants.

• Drain water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers before leaving the water access. Many species are very small and easily overlooked. Seeds or small fragments of invasive plants, spiny water fleas, eggs of fish and small aquatic animals, and fish diseases can be carried in water.

Draining it before leaving the access area can effectively reduce the chance that any remaining plants and animals survive.

• Report new sightings, if you suspect a new infestation of an invasive plant or animal. Save a specimen and report it to a local official.

• Dispose of unwanted bait and other animals or aquatic plans in the trash. Releasing live animals and plants in a lake, river, or along the shore often causes invasive species to become established.

Earthworms you buy for bait may not be native and should be dumped on the ground. Aquatic plants or animals you may collect, or buy in a pet should never be released into the wild.

• Spray, rinse, or dry boats and recreational equipment to remove or kill species that were not visible when leaving a water body.

“Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!” is a national campaign that helps recreational users to become part of the solution in stopping the transport and spread of aquatic invasive species.

Additional information on invasive species and problems, and how to prevent their spread is available from the Mississippi River Basin Panel (MRBP) on Aquatic Nuisance Species, wwwaux.cer.cr.usgs.gov/MICRA.

(Source: 2006 pamphlet published by the State of Minnesota, Dept. of Natural Resources)