Zebra mussels confirmed in Beltrami Lake in Beltrami County (published July 17, 2025)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Beltrami Lake, near Bemidji in Beltrami County.

A lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels attached to rocks in the lake. During a follow-up search, a DNR invasive species specialist found an adult zebra mussel attached to another rock nearby.

Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:

• Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
• Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
• Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
• Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one waterbody to another.

These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:

• Decontaminate watercraft and equipment – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website.
• Spray watercraft and equipment with high-pressure water or rinse with water if high-pressure water is not available.
• Dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another waterbody.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species that was not already known to be in the waterbody.

More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website.