ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said in a release Friday zebra mussels have been confirmed in 2 central Minnesota lakes and the Red River.
Ruth Lake in Crow Wing County and Clearwater Lake in Wright and Stearns counties were likely infested by humans transporting the aquatic invasive species from an infected lake, the release said. The mussels attach to boats, docks and other aquatic equipment, or water not drained from watercraft.
The DNR said the infestation of the Red River, which borders North Dakota in northwestern Minnesota, was not surprising. Zebra mussels were found in a Red River tributary, the Otter Tail River, in 2012.
Ruth and Clearwater were the fourth and fifth new lakes confirmed to have zebra mussels this year, the release said. According to the DNR, 95 percent of Minnesota lakes are not infested with any aquatic invasive species.
