Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is warning duck hunters across the state, including in West Texas, that gear carrying invasive species can damage lakes and bring fines of up to $500 per violation.
Duck season is here, and the agency says boats, trailers, waders and even decoys can carry aquatic invaders from one lake to the next. Two big offenders are giant salvinia and zebra mussels.
Giant salvinia is a floating plant that can double the area it covers in a single week. It forms thick mats across the surface, which makes some spots hard to reach for hunters and boaters, and it crowds out the native plants ducks and other waterfowl eat. Zebra mussels are tiny shellfish that attach to boats and equipment, damage infrastructure and disrupt ecosystems. Even microscopic larvae can ride in leftover water inside boats or decoys.
The fix is simple. Hunters need to clean, drain and dry their equipment before moving between lakes. That means pulling plants and mud off boats, trailers and waders, checking decoys and bags, and emptying hollow decoys. TPWD also suggests a wet/dry vacuum to pick up plant fragments before rinsing. Transporting prohibited aquatic invasive species is illegal in Texas. Boaters must also drain water from their boats and onboard containers before leaving or approaching freshwater.
Common questions
How much is the fine for spreading invasive species while duck hunting in Texas?
- Fines can reach up to $500 per violation, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The agency is warning duck hunters across Texas, including West Texas, that gear carrying invasive species can damage lakes. Boats, trailers, waders and even decoys can carry aquatic invaders from one lake to another.
What hunting gear can spread invasive species between lakes?
- Boats, trailers, waders and even decoys can carry aquatic invaders from one lake to the next, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Duck season is here, and the agency says two big offenders are giant salvinia and zebra mussels. Both can harm lakes.
What is giant salvinia and why is it a problem for duck hunters?
- Giant salvinia is a floating plant that can double the area it covers in a single week. It forms thick mats across the surface, which makes some spots hard to reach for hunters and boaters. It also crowds out the native plants that ducks and other waterfowl eat.
