Boat carrying zebra mussels stopped at Anaconda inspection station

From Fish, Wildlife and Parks

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Anaconda watercraft inspection station intercepted a boat carrying zebra mussels Friday. The cabin cruiser was being transported from Ohio to Puget Sound in Washington.

The inspection station reported that many mussels were found in the boat’s gimbal area, the trim tabs and several crevices. 

The boat was wrapped in shrink wrap, and inspectors hot-washed the exterior of the boat to the best of their ability. The inspectors were not able to flush the motors, bilge pump or any other part of the boat. The transporter of the boat was not the owner of the boat, and he did not have keys to the boat.

Officials in Idaho and Washington were notified. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will follow up with the vessel to wash and possibly quarantine it.

FWP reminds all those transporting motorized or nonmotorized boats into Montana to have their watercraft inspected before launching. Boat owners are required to stop at all open watercraft inspection stations. To find a watercraft inspection station visit http://www.cleandraindrymt.com.

Stricter regulations have been put in place, including at Tiber Reservoir, since aquatic invasive mussel larvae were discovered at Tiber in 2016 and evidence of mussels, though none were actually found, at Canyon Ferry Resrervoir.

——

Havre Daily News staff contributed to this report.