Aiming to help prevent the parasite carried by Merganser ducks that causes Swimmer’s Itch, GLA will soon be live trapping and relocating Common Merganser hens and their chicks.
You may see trapping teams setting up nets and working your shoreline to capture the ducks. If so, please assist the efforts by staying inside until the hen and her chicks have been captured. Usually, it takes about an hour or two to set up the nets, capture, and relocate the brood.
If you see broods, please do not harass them in any way, as it can increase the difficulty of catching them. (Note: It is illegal to shoot them except during hunting season).
Finally, if you observe a Common Merganser brood on Glen Lake, please call in your sighting to 231-883-2776, noting the number of chicks and where you observed them. (There is no need to call if you see single mergansers without chicks or broods of other species such as mallards.)
Our goal will be to repeat last year’s effort of live trapping 100% of the Common Merganser broods. The trapping season begins now and will continue until early July.
Thanks for your cooperation,
Rob Karner, Watershed Biologist.
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