More than 111,000 watercraft were inspected this season in Montana by partners and Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff. Of those, 16 watercraft were intercepted transporting zebra or quagga mussels into the state.
The most recent detection was on October 13, when a boat was intercepted at the Flowing Wells inspection station in FWP Region 7, traveling from Iowa to Fort Peck.
Other highlights from this season:
-More than 100 watercraft were intercepted transporting aquatic weeds.
-More than 10,000 inspections were conducted at Glacier National Park.
-FWP enforcement staff conducted more than 250 AIS-related traffic stops and issued over 100 citations this season.
-More than 2,100 mussel veliger (larval phase) early detection samples have been collected.
-No evidence of invasive mussels has been found in Montana this season.
-New Zealand mudsnails (NZMS) were detected at a private hatchery facility near Hamilton. The facility was quarantined and an eradiation treatment has been initiated. NZMS are found in a number of locations east of the Continental Divide, but this is the first detection in Montana west of the Divide.
-Due to no further invasive mussel detections at Canyon Ferry, FWP has initiated the process to remove quarantine requirements for the 2020 boating season.
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