Stop aquatic hitchhikers!

If you are a water recreationist—boater, angler, water-skier, sailor, or canoeist—there are some important things you can do to prevent the transport of harmful invasive species from one lake or river to another. In Minnesota it is illegal to transport prohibited invasive species.

• INSPECT your boat, trailer, and equipment and REMOVE visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud before leaving the water access.
• DRAIN water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers before leaving the water access.
• SPRAY, RINSE, or DRY boats and recreational equipment to remove or kill species that were not visible when leaving a waterbody. Before transporting to another water:

• Spray/rinse with high pressure, and/or hot tap water (above 120? F), especially if moored for more than a day; or
• Dry for at least five days
• DISPOSE of unwanted bait and other animals or aquatic plants in the trash.
• REPORT new sightings of aquatic invasive species. If you suspect a new infestation of an invasive plant or animal, save a specimen and report it to a local natural resource office.


• ADDITIONAL STEPS are recommended for the following activities:
  • Shore and fly-fishing
    Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from waders and hip boots.
    Drain water from bait containers.
  • Personal watercraft
    Avoid running engine through aquatic plants.
    Run engine for 5-10 seconds on the trailer to blow out excess water and vegetation from internal drive, then turn off engine.
    Remove aquatic plants and animals from water intake grate, steering nozzle, watercraft hull, and trailer.
  
  • Sailing
    Remove aquatic plants and animals from hull, centerboard or bilgeboard wells, rudderpost area, and trailer.
  • Scuba diving
    Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from equipment.
    Drain water from buoyancy compensator (bc), regulator, tank boot, and other containers.
    Rinse suit and inside of bc with hot water.
  • Waterfowl hunting
    Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud from boat, motor, trailer, waders or hip boots, decoy lines, and anchors (elliptical and bulb-shaped anchors can help reduce snagging aquatic plants).
    Cut cattails or other plants above the waterline when they are used for camouflage or blinds.

More information is available at Protect Your Waters and in the brochure Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers .