Zebra Mussels Invade Gull Lake

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources biologists have confirmed a report that zebra mussels are now in Gull Lake in The Brainerd Lakes Area.

It marks the second time in four months that zebra mussels have been discovered in a popular Minnesota lake. In July, the DNR found zebra mussels in Lake Minnetonka.

A Brainerd area dock removal service discovered the zebra mussels attached to a boat lift pulled from the lake and reported its findings to the DNR. The DNR surveyed additional docks and boat lifts recently removed from the lake and found zebra mussels attached to several boat lifts and to some aquatic vegetation.

Gull Lake will now be designated as infested waters, which prohibits the transport of water and requires draining of all water including bait containers, and also prohibits harvest of bait.

It is not known how widespread zebra mussels are in the lake. The young age of the zebra mussels suggest a reproducing population has likely been in the lake for a least a year.