
Don’t Let These Freeloaders Into Montana!
We are getting close to outdoor season, and plenty of people will be traveling to and from Montana to enjoy its embarrassment of riches when it comes to fishable bodies of water.
Yes, this is a warning that you hear early and often every year, but it does bear repeating because of how serious the situation could become if not properly monitored and regulated.
According to Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks:
- All watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species. You must obtain an inspection before launching on Montana waters. Stop at all open inspection stations you encounter.
- Montana will accept inspections conducted in Idaho and Wyoming. Proof of inspection is required. You must stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana.
Failure to get inspections before you launch your watercraft is not only against the law but also jeopardizes Montana's aquatic ecosystems.
Transporting zebra mussels across state lines is a violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits the import and interstate transport of any live invasive species without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The maximum penalty for violating the injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act is six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Zebra mussels, notorious for their rapid proliferation and voracious appetite for nutrients, pose a grave danger to Montana's waterways.

Where Are Zebra Mussels In North Dakota?
According to the USGS, zebra mussels have been found in the following North Dakota waterways:
- Goose
- Grand Marais-Red
- Middle Red
- Middle Sheyenne
- Sandhill-Wilson
- Upper James
- Upper Red
- Western Wild Rice
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Gallery Credit: Scott Haugen