FERGUS FALLS, Minn. -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Franklin Lake in Otter Tail County -- one of several recent confirmations across the Minnesota as lake property owners and lake service provider businesses check equipment for invasive species at the end of the season.
A lake service provider business notified the DNR of suspected zebra mussels on equipment they were removing from Franklin Lake. During a preliminary search of several dozen pieces of equipment in the area, DNR staff found and removed five adult zebra mussels from four locations. The DNR will conduct a more extensive search of Franklin Lake and consider potential treatment options early next spring.
Zebra mussels are non-native species that can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors, and cause expensive damage to water intake pipes. Less than 2 percent of Minnesota’s 11,842 lakes are listed as infested with zebra mussels.
