In This Issue
With some waterfowl hunting seasons starting Saturday, Sept. 3, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is advising hunters to take precautions for avian influenza when handling harvested birds.?
?Waterfowl hunters can take steps to minimize the risk of spreading the virus,? said Michelle Carstensen, DNR wildlife health program supervisor. ?We?re already getting reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild and domestic birds before fall, so the virus is currently present in Minnesota.?
While the virus presents a low risk to humans, it is important to avoid contact with sick birds and be mindful that virus may also be transported by your hunting equipment. If you hunt waterfowl and have backyard poultry, plan for added biosecurity measures (bah.state.mn.us/media/HPAI-Notice-Backyard-Final.pdf) to keep your flock healthy.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service makes the following recommendations for hunters to protect themselves from avian influenza:
- Do not handle or eat sick game.
- Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game.
- When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant, and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that came in contact with game.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling animals.
- All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before being consumed.
Minnesota has a variety of waterfowl seasons that open in September: the experimental early teal season is Saturday, Sept. 3, through Wednesday, Sept. 7; early goose season is Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 18; the youth waterfowl hunt is Saturday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept. 11; and the main waterfowl season opens Saturday, Sept. 24. Waterfowl hunters might see DNR staff at some landings during the season where voluntary sampling for avian influenza will be happening.
In addition to waterfowl hunters, the DNR reminds all hunters to use precautions when handling any harvested game. Anyone concerned about avian influenza in waterfowl can find more information on the avian influenza page?of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/AI).
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 Photo credit: Minnesota DNR
Oak trees stressed by recent drought have been showing symptoms of infestation by twolined chestnut borer, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Twolined chestnut borer is a native wood-boring beetle. The larvae feed beneath the bark of oak trees. Trees stressed and weakened by drought are especially vulnerable, while healthy trees are usually not infested.
?Even when hot, dry weather is replaced by rainy days, it can take years for trees to recover after a drought,? said Val Cervenka, DNR forest health coordinator. ?After two consecutive years of drought conditions in 2021 and 2022, we expect to see oak trees dying from twolined chestnut borer attack for the next few years.?
Symptoms of an infestation often begin in mid-July and initially include dead and dying leaves at the top of the tree. Dead leaves can stay on branches for months. During the year following the attack, the top of the oak tree will be dead and leafless; leaves in the middle section die, become orange-brown and stay on the tree; leaves at the bottom will still be green. If the tree has been infested for more than a year or two, it might be possible to find small, D-shaped exit holes in the trunk where the adult borers have come out of the tree.
Oak wilt and twolined chestnut borer symptoms can be similar: red oaks with oak wilt will rapidly drop most of their leaves within six to eight weeks, and leaves may be green or only partly brown when they fall from the tree. In contrast, dead leaves on trees attacked by twolined chestnut borer will hang on to the tree and remain brown. For more information, head to the forest health page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/TreeCare/Forest_Health).
?Unfortunately, preventing an attack of twolined chestnut borer on stressed oaks is difficult,? Cervenka said. ?However, you can take steps to reduce stress during drought, which decreases the likelihood of twolined chestnut borer attack.?
To reduce stress in yard trees:
- Mulch and water trees properly. If rainfall is inadequate, watering oaks weekly may be?the?best method to prevent twolined chestnut borer attack.
- Avoid adding soil over roots, do not fertilize stressed oaks, and do not allow herbicides to contact oak leaves.
To reduce stress in woodlands:
- Thin trees crowding oaks to reduce stress caused by competition for resources. However, wait until the trees have recovered from recent drought because thinning during or shortly after a stress event can increase the chance of attack from twolined chestnut borer.
- Avoid wounding oaks from April to July when oak wilt spreads easily.
- Add a diversity of tree species to make woodlands more resilient to change.
Eradication of twolined chestnut borer in woodlands is not possible. However, over time, borer populations will naturally decline. If many, high-quality oaks are affected, landowners can work with a forester to set up a salvage harvest during the winter before the trees degrade. Contact a local DNR forester (mndnr.gov/Woodlands/CFM-Map.html) for questions about managing oaks in woodlands.
For more information, head to the tree care page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/TreeCare).
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 Photo credit: Minnesota DNR
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the invasive algae starry stonewort in Lake Bemidji, adjacent to the city of Bemidji in Beltrami County.?Lake Bemidji is close to other lakes where starry stonewort was previously confirmed.
DNR staff found starry stonewort in Lake Bemidji while conducting a more general survey of algae in the lake. Funding for this research was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.
Follow-up surveys are being conducted to determine the extent of starry stonewort distribution in Lake Bemidji. If surveys confirm the starry stonewort is in localized areas of the lake, removal in those areas might be pursued. Such a response could include hand pulling, herbicide applications and other methods as appropriate.
Starry stonewort has never been eradicated from any U.S. lake or river, but treatment or careful removal can help reduce the risk of spread and relieve associated nuisance impacts on water-related recreational activities. Early detection is key to effective management.
Starry stonewort has now been confirmed in 22 water bodies in Minnesota. It was first confirmed in Minnesota in 2015.
In late summer and early fall, starry stonewort?s small white star-shaped bulbils become more visible, making it easier to distinguish from other aquatic plants. Information on how to identify starry stonewort can be found on the DNR?s website (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AquaticPlants/StarryStonewort). If people think they?ve found starry stonewort or any other invasive species new to a lake or river, they should report it to the DNR by contacting their area invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AIS/Contacts.html).
Starry stonewort is an algae that looks like native aquatic plants and can form dense mats, which can interfere with recreational uses of a lake and compete with native plants. It is most likely spread when fragments have not been properly cleaned from trailered boats, personal watercraft, docks, boat lifts, anchors or other water-related equipment.?
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 waterbody 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.
More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/AIS).
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