In This Issue
 Photo credit: Minnesota DNR
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of signal crayfish, an invasive non-native species, in Lake Winona, adjacent to Alexandria in Douglas County. This is the first confirmation of signal crayfish in Minnesota waters.
A commercial harvester contacted the DNR after trapping two signal crayfish in Lake Winona. Since the first catch, the harvester has found eight additional signal crayfish in Lake Winona. The DNR followed up with trapping in Lake Winona and in two adjacent connected lakes but did not capture additional signal crayfish.
One female was among the 10 adult signal crayfish captured and removed from Lake Winona. At this time, there is no evidence of reproduction; no eggs or juveniles have been found.
Signal crayfish are larger and more aggressive than Minnesota crayfish and the invasive rusty crayfish. They eat aquatic plants, detritus, fish eggs, smaller crayfish species and other beneficial native invertebrates. Signal crayfish might outcompete native species for food and habitat. Signal crayfish can spread between connected waterways or be transported by people. They can also crawl over land at night and during wet weather.
?Importing live, non-native crayfish to Minnesota is illegal without a permit,? DNR Aquatic Invertebrate Biologist Don Eaton said. ?Regardless of species, it is illegal to release non-native plants or animals into the environment. We deeply appreciate that people harvesting crayfish are keeping a close watch on their catch and that, in this case, the harvester quickly reported this unusual-looking crayfish to the DNR.?
Signal crayfish are bluish-brown to reddish-brown in color, with large, smooth claws and a smooth carapace ? the protective covering over their head and mid-section. They have a white or pale blue-green patch near their claw hinge, which looks like a signal flag.
People who think they might have observed signal crayfish or other invasive species should note the exact location, take photos, keep the specimen, and submit their observations to EDDMapS (eddmaps.org/project/midwest/tools/infestedwaters/?page=map) or their local invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html). To help confirm sightings of signal crayfish, photos of the blue-green patches on claws, the bright red coloring on the underside of the claws and full-body views from above and below are ideal. Placing the crayfish next to a ruler or other size reference is also helpful.
The DNR website (mndnr.gov/invasives/trade-pathways.html) has information about signal crayfish (mndnr.gov/invasives/aquaticanimals/signal-crayfish.html) and about pathways by which non-native, prohibited and invasive species are typically introduced.
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With a half-million hunters set to converge on the state?s fields and woods for Saturday?s firearms deer opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to make safety their top priority.
When hunters prepare and take the proper precautions, hunting is a safe activity that creates lifelong memories. Four primary ways for hunters to ensure a safe hunt are to practice climbing into and out of tree stands before the season starts; brush up on the key tenets of safe firearms handling before hitting the field; wear blaze clothing to ensure they?re visible to other hunters; and tell someone where they?re hunting and when they plan to return.
?Safe hunts don?t just happen by chance,? said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the DNR Enforcement Division. ?They happen when hunters focus on the task at-hand, whether that?s climbing into their tree stand, ensuring the shot they?re about to take is a safe one, or unloading their firearms and putting them away safely at the end of the day.?
The leading cause of injury among hunters is accidents involving tree stands. According to national data, as many as one in three hunters who hunt from an elevated stand will fall and sustain a serious injury. The number of hunting related firearms fatalities has dropped significantly over the past 60 years ? largely due to safety training requirements for young and new hunters ? but even one fatality is too many.
The following safety tips can help ensure a safe hunting season for everyone:
- Check your stand before the season to ensure it remains in good working order.
- Inspect your safety harness before your hunt. Wear it when you?re in the stand and when you?re climbing in and out.
- Always maintain three points of contact with the steps or ladder.
- Treat every firearm as if it?s loaded.
- Always control the muzzle.
- Be sure of your target and what?s beyond it.
- Put your finger on the trigger only when you?re ready to shoot.
- Wear blaze clothing when it?s required. (See the requirements on Page 34 of the 2023 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet.)
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Jessie Lake near Talmoon, Turtle Lake near Marcell and Trout Lake near Coleraine, all in Itasca County.
A resort owner on Jessie Lake contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels on a pontoon boat being removed for the season. Jessie Lake is upstream of and connected to other waters where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District staff contacted the DNR after finding juvenile zebra mussels on equipment in Turtle Lake during an end-of-season inspection. Turtle Lake flows into the Bigfork River, where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District staff contacted the DNR after finding juvenile zebra mussels on equipment in Trout Lake during an end-of-season inspection. Trout Lake is near Pokegama Lake, where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
?Zebra mussels are sometimes first discovered in lakes when lake property owners or lake service provider businesses remove boats, docks and equipment from the water at the end of the season,? DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Kelly Pennington said.
Lake property owners should carefully look for invasive species on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons and rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
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Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
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Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
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Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
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Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
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Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.
These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:
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Decontaminate watercraft and equipment ? find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/decon).
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Spray with high-pressure water or rinse with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
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Dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/invasives/ais/contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the water body.
More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/ais).
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