NEWS RELEASE: Waterfowl Hunters Can Help Stop The Spread Of Aquatic Invasive Species

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 3, 2025
Contact: Erin McFarlane, Statewide Clean Boats, Clean Waters Educator, UWSP Extension Lakes
[email protected] or 715-346-4978

Waterfowl Hunters Can Help Stop The Spread
Of Aquatic Invasive Species

Two people in camouflage clothing untangle duck decoys in shallow water, with reeds and a boat in the background.

Migratory bird hunters can help protect Wisconsin's natural resources and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species this fall. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds migratory bird hunters that they are essential partners in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species during the fall hunting seasons. The steps hunters take before leaving boat launches or access points are vital to protecting the wetlands and waterways that support our hunting traditions.

Mud stuck to boots or gear can carry invasive plant seeds, fragments and tiny organisms. Water left in boats, decoys or motors can harbor microscopic zebra mussel larvae or disease-causing pathogens. Even hunting dogs can unknowingly transport invasive species – seeds, snails and insects can collect under their vests or in their coats. A quick rinse and brush-off of your dog after a hunt can make a big difference.

One invasive species of particular concern to migratory bird hunters is the faucet snail. These tiny snails carry parasites that can kill ducks and other waterfowl that eat them, and they’ve been linked to large bird mortality events in the Upper Midwest. Preventing their spread is essential to keeping our hunting areas healthy and productive.

Hunters can learn more about stopping faucet snails and other aquatic invasive species on the DNR’s Invasive Species Prevention webpage or by visiting the “Hunter Resources” tab on the Waterfowl Hunting webpage.

Simple Prevention Steps Every Hunter Can Take

Before entering and leaving any waterbody, be sure to:

Inspect waders, boats, trailers, motors and hunting gear – including boots, blinds and dogs.
Remove all plants, animals and mud.
Drain water from decoys, boats, motors and other equipment.
Never move live fish or plants from one waterbody to another.
Remove seed heads and roots from vegetation used in duck blinds. It is illegal to use phragmites for camouflage in counties where it is listed as a Prohibited species under NR 40, which includes the western half of Wisconsin.

Protect the places you love to hunt – for this season and generations to come. With just a few extra minutes of care, hunters can help stop invasive species in their tracks and keep Wisconsin’s wetlands and waterways thriving.

For more information about aquatic invasive species, including where they are prohibited and restricted in Wisconsin, visit the DNR’s Invasive Species webpage.