Lamprey Treatments Set for Ontonagon River

Lamprey treatments in our region continue.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel are scheduled to apply lampricides (Lampricid and Bayluscide) to the Ontonagon River in Ontonagon and Houghton counties.

The selective poison will kill sea lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom.

Applications could begin as early as today, and will take about eight days to complete, depending on river conditions and weather.

Infested tributaries must be treated every three to five years with to control sea lamprey populations.

The lampricides used are believed not to be harmful to humans or pets, but it’s best to minimize exposure to river water during treatment.