Zebra Mussels Found in Two Minnesota Lakes
State environmental officials have confirmed the invasive species in Blackduck Lake and Third Crow Wing Lake, prompting renewed boating precautions.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Fishing
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The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Blackduck Lake in Bemidji County and Third Crow Wing Lake in Hubbard County. Mussels were found on dock sections and boat lifts at a Blackduck Lake resort after a lake property owner contacted the DNR.
Why it matters
Zebra mussels are an aquatic invasive species that can spread to other waters on boats, lifts and docks, affecting anglers and boaters across Minnesota. Blackduck Lake drains into the Blackduck River and downstream into Lower Red Lake within the Red Lake Nation, which the DNR has notified.
Minnesota requires docks, boat lifts and rafts to dry for 21 days before they are moved to another lake, per the stub's hard data. The full extent of the infestation in Blackduck and Third Crow Wing lakes has not been reported.
The players
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The state agency responsible for managing Minnesota's fish, wildlife, and invasive species programs, including aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring and enforcement.
Red Lake Nation Department of Natural Resources
The natural resources department of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, which manages fisheries and waters within the Red Lake Nation, including Lower Red Lake.
The details
Zebra mussels were attached to a boat lift removed from Third Crow Wing Lake, and DNR staff found more mussels around that lake. At Blackduck Lake, mussels were found on several dock sections and boat lifts at a resort, and DNR officials located additional mussels on more in-water equipment there.
Timeline
Article reporting the confirmations was published November 14, 2026.
Roadmap
Minnesota law requires anglers and boaters to take steps to reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species whether or not a lake has them, and these detections show how far such species can reach through docks and lifts. The findings extend a statewide pattern of zebra mussel spread that prompts ongoing monitoring across the state's lakes.
Anglers and boaters who use docks, boat lifts or rafts should dry them for 21 days before moving them between lakes. Taking these steps helps keep zebra mussels out of waters that have not yet been affected.
The takeaway
Inspecting and drying boating equipment after every lake visit remains the most practical way to limit the spread of zebra mussels, even in lakes where none have been found. Following Minnesota's AIS rules protects both your favorite fishing waters and the lakes downstream from them.
Further reading
For more on the rules affecting anglers, see Fishing coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lakeland PBS.
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