The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be treating Rogers Creek in Van Buren County this month for sea lamprey. They’ll apply lampricide to the creek between May 1 and May 10. The agency’s Scott Grunder told WSJM News last year the invasive sea lamprey came to the Great Lakes with the opening of shipping canals.
“They basically just about destroyed the fishery by the 1960s,” Grunder said. “So for the last 60 years, we have been fighting them back primarily with the use of chemicals, but we also use other means like barriers and traps.”
Grunder tells us the chemical method of fighting sea lamprey has wiped out the majority of the invasive creature’s population in Lake Michigan. Grunder says everyone ought to know the water will turn a yellow-green color in the affected areas next month when the lampricide is applied. Although the chemicals are not dangerous to humans, you’re still advised to limit contact with the water at that time. Also, he says fish may not be very hungry for a few days.
