Lamprey-Killing Chemicals To Be Applied in County

Chemicals to kill sea lampreys are to be applied to Millecoquins River and Hog Island Creek in Mackinac County, between Tuesday, May 29, and Thursday, June 7.

The chemicals, designed to protect the Great Lakes fishery, are not dangerous to humans, according to the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service.

As with any pesticide, the public is advised to use discretion and minimize unnecessary exposure. Persons confining bait fish or other organisms in stream water are advised to use an alternate water source because lampricides may cause mortality among aquatic organisms stressed by crowding and handling.

Agricultural irrigation must be suspended for 24 hours during and following stream treatment, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sea Lamprey larvae live in certain Great Lakes tributaries and transform into parasitic adults that migrate to the Great Lakes and kill fish.

Failure to kill the larvae in streams would result in significant damage to Great Lakes fishery, the agency reported.

For more information, call (231) 845-6205.