Aquatic Invasive Species

Non-native species in Montana have a way of making their presence known.

In June a KULR TV reported this from near the Ft. Belknap reservation:

“Trooper Matt Finley says the driver of the vehicle swerved to avoid hitting a kangaroo,” said Angela Marshall.

Some boats coming into Montana from Lake Powell will be locked to their trailers for a mandatory quarantine period of up to 30 days in response to the threat of invasive mussels.

All boats coming into Montana are already required to be inspected for invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels, which have caused millions of dollars of damage to hydropower dams, irrigation systems and personal property in infested waters in other states.

More than 50,000 watercraft have been inspected at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks aquatic invasive species check stations across the state.

So far this year, 12 boats with invasive mussels have been found during those checks. Most recently three boats with invasive mussels were found at the Anaconda inspection station on July 18.

Montana’s Environmental Quality Council is trying to find a fair way to raise $6.5 million a year to fund the state’s aquatic invasive species program that screens boats for potential costly invaders. 

More Montanans are aware of the threat of invasive species this year compared to last year. That’s according to a new study by the University of Montana.