The Daily News

By now you’ve heard that a young stage zebra mussel has been found in the Red River near Kidder Dam. That’s not good news.

Zebra mussels are a non-native species that likely got into this country by stowing away in the holding tanks of ships on the Great Lakes. The young, microscopic version of the zebra mussel, referred to as a veliger, was discovered during a routine plankton sampling operation at Kidder Dam.

The N.D. Game and Fish Department has been expecting them. In fact, at the last advisory board meeting, which was held in Wahpeton, district fisheries supervisor Gene Van Eeckhout, predicted the first zebra mussels to hit North Dakota would be found near Wahpeton-Breckenridge.

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"We are disappointed, but not surprised that zebra mussels have entered the Red River," said Lynn Schlueter, Game and Fish aquatic nuisance species coordinator in a department news release. "The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources found them in the Red River watershed in the Pelican Lake chain well upstream of Wahpeton-Breckenridge last fall. And again this spring new mussel infestations were documented in Minnesota upstream of the Red River, including in Lake Lizzie."

The veliger can swim for long distances but eventually attaches itself to a hard surface and becomes an adult about the size of a nickel. There it multiplies quickly, laying up to a million eggs. Zebra mussels feed by filtering plankton out of the water and once they’ve built up in numbers can clean out the valuable microscopic base of the food chain. In short, zebra mussels are extremely undesirable.

The sad part is biologists knew it was coming but there was little that could be done about it. There are regulations specifically implemented to stop the spread of these aquatic nuisance species but slowing their advance is the best we can hope for.

The Asian silver carp is a good example. They were imported into fish farms in Arkansas to control weeds but escaped and are now spreading through the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and all their tributaries. These fish grow to 40 pounds or more and jump high into the air at the sound of a boat motor. That makes them dangerous to boaters but they are also extremely prolific and taking over any waters they invade. Silver carp are headed for the Great Lakes where a legal battle rages over how to stop them. Unfortunately, some preliminary tests have shown it may already be too late.

Despite what appears to be futility we have to do what we can to at least slow the assault of aquatic nuisance species and keep them from getting into new waters. Here are some things you can and must do. These are laws in North Dakota, or will be soon, and Minnesota’s regulations are similar:

• All water must be drained from boats and other watercraft, including bilges and motors, before leaving a water body. (A new regulation that will include livewells and baitwells will likely go into effect Oct. 1 so you’re advised to start this practice now.)

• All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats and construction equipment, personal watercraft, trailers and associated equipment such as fishing poles/lures before leaving a body of water.

• All aquatic vegetation must be removed from bait buckets when leaving the water.

• Live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation may not be transported into North Dakota. Also, all water must be drained from watercraft prior to entering the state.

At this point, you may think these invasions are no big deal. However, if zebra mussels or another aquatic nuisance species gets into your favorite fishing waters you will have a different attitude. Read the laws and follow them – for all our sakes.

BOWFISHING

REPORT

My journey into the world of bowfishing continues and I’ve had some success. On July 4, as the fireworks exploded overhead, I was cruising the shallows of an Otter Tail County lake when my lights illuminated a huge fish. At first I wasn’t even sure what I was looking at and hesitated for a second. Then I realized it was a monster buffalo fish (another undesirable invasive species) so I quickly drew my bow and released the arrow.

Unfortunately, I hit the fish in the spine and didn’t get much of a battle out of it, other than trying to get it into the boat. The big buffalo was an even 40 inches long and very thick. I didn’t have a scale big enough to weigh it but it had to be more than 30 pounds. It was our largest fish so far and we may have a hard time beating that one.

I did make a run to Buffalo Lake south of Milnor on Thursday night but the algae bloom was so thick we couldn’t see 6 inches deep.

DEER LOTTERY

It appears North Dakota’s deer hunters are getting used to using the Internet to apply for and purchase their licenses. Almost 70 percent of the 92,000 deer hunters who applied in the first lottery did so online. That’s quite impressive if you ask me.

There are 31,000 antlerless tags left after that first lottery and unsuccessful first lottery applicants will be receiving an application form in the mail. The deadline to submit those applications is July 28.

Nonresidents and residents who did not apply in the first lottery may fill out a third lottery application form (available at license vendors) and have it postmarked by July 28. As soon as the second lottery is held the third lottery will immediately follow.

MEETINGS

The Junior Wildlife Club is planning a field trip to a Dalton, Minn., wildlife museum that has more than 500 animals from six continents on display. The trip will take place Thursday, July 22. Participants will meet at the Wahpeton Community Center at 5:30 p.m. and return about 9 p.m. Sack lunch is provided. Parents are welcome. Call 642-2811 to register.

The Red River Area Sportsmen's Club will meet at the Joe Pikarski Trap Club north of Mooreton at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15.

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