Roland Sigurdson, Water Resource Center

Largemouth Bass.

The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are partnering with retailers, conservation, and outdoor groups to offer lead tackle exchanges across the state this summer. Over 17 lead tackle exchange events are scheduled beginning this month. Anglers can bring lead sinkers and jigs to the event to trade for nonlead ones.

”We want to offer anglers throughout Minnesota the chance to try out and compare nonlead tackle made from metals such as bitsmuth, tin, and stainless steel,“ said Kevin McDonald, coordinator of the OEA’s non-lead tackle program.

Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Found in most fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal is poisoning wildlife such as loons and eagles.

Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program, is enthusiastic about the lead exchange program. “This is an excellent opportunity for people who care about wildlife to cooperate with the fishing tackle industry and reduce the amount of lead being deposited in Minnesota’s lakes.”

Schedule of Exchanges: For updates, visit http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm

• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Rochester
• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Duluth
• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Fridley
• Wed.-Thurs., July 16-17, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Joe’s Sporting Goods, 935 N. Dale Street, St. Paul
• Fri., July 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Burnsville
• Fri., July 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Bemidji
• Sat., July 19, 10 a.m. to noon Lake Mary Assoc, Kensington Runestone County Park Douglas Co.
• Fri., July 25, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Minnetonka
• Fri., July 25, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - St. Cloud
• Fri.-Sat., August 1-2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Celebrating a Century of Conservation at Eagle Days -Wabasha
• Fri., August 1, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Maple Grove
• Fri., August 8, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Woodbury
• Sat., August 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dakota County Fair Grounds, Farmington
• Fri., August 15, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Bloomington
• Sat., August 16, noon to 2 p.m. Marion Lake Association, Lions Club Shelter - Dent

In this session, the Legislature considered banning the sale and use of lead tackle. But after a series of stakeholder discussions, the groups involved agreed that a better approach was to educate anglers about the alternatives to lead tackle and to offer opportunities to try out non-lead sinkers and jigs.

Along with the OEA and DNR, other partners in this summer’s lead tackle exchanges include Audubon Minnesota, Cabela’s, Duluth Audubon, Gander Mountain, Duluth Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Joe’s Sporting Goods, Minnesota Lakes Association and several individual lake associations, National Eagle Center, and Voyageurs National Park Association.

Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance is a state agency dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s environment and assuring a sustainable economy through waste prevention and resource conservation.

Barb Liukkonen, Water Resources Extension Coordinator

I recently attended a workshop on West Nile Virus to learn how big a problem this mosquito-borne disease is in Minnesota and to find out what individuals can do to minimize their risk. While the focus was on West Nile Virus (WNV), I also learned about LaCrosse Encephalitis, and Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, which are mosquito-borne diseases that have been around Minnesota for many years.

Only a handful of Minnesota’s 50 mosquito species transmit disease. All of the four main mosquitotransmit ted viruses here in Minnesota also have other animal hosts. Some of these hosts serve as reservoirs to further transmit the disease and some are “dead end” hosts.

Of Minnesota’s 50 mosquito species, Culex tarsalis appears to be the primary carrier of West Nile Virus. Culex tarsalis has a distinct white ring around its proboscis (snout).

The West Nile Virus (WVN) was detected in the US in 1999, and was first seen in Minnesota last summer (2002). Forty-eight human cases and 992 equine cases of WNV were reported in Minnesota in 2002. There were no human fatalities, but 40% of the infected horses died. There is an effective vaccine for horses, but none yet available for humans. Humans and horses are dead-end hosts; birds serve as the main reservoirs for WNV.

You may be bitten by a mosquito infected with WNV and not catch the virus. About 80% of the people bitten by infected mosquitoes will not be affected, 20% will develop West Nile Fever; and about 1% will become seriously ill. Out of that 1%, fewer than 10% of the cases will be fatal, which means an overall fatality rate of <0.1% of people bitten by infected mosquitoes.

The incubation period from bite to first symptoms is typically 3-6 days. West Nile fever is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever and a horrible headache. The fever typically runs its course in about two weeks and the individual recovers. Severe WNV can result in meningitis, coma, loss of mental acuity, and paralysis. WNV typically affects older people. The median age of the 284 people who died in the U.S. in 2002 from WNV was 88 years.

There are many species of mosquitoes that have been shown to carry WNV. Here in Minnesota a primary vector seems to be Culex tarsalis which breeds in sunny, semi-permanent marshes and ditches.

So what can you do to reduce your risk of contracting WNV? Use common sense - avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk (peak mosquito times). Wear long sleeves and long pants and use a bug repellent containing DEET.

Empty water holding containers - old tires, buckets or other containers, even the black plastic covering the area you are preparing for your shoreline restoration. The mosquitoes go from eggs to larvae to adults in 5-7 days, so make sure there is no standing water on your property. You (and the birds) can still enjoy a birdbath - just make sure to change the water at least twice a week. If you have a rain barrel or other water storage container, either drain and replace it at least weekly, or consider adding b.t. to control mosquito larvae.

For more information and links to other helpful web sites, check out the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District.

Pam Perry

Karen Sherper Rohs, Regional Extension Educator

Pam Perry, a Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist and manager of the Minnesota Volunteer Loon Monitoring Program, presented at the Shoreland Volunteer Kickoff Event on January 18th. The common loon is a very appropriate state bird for Minnesota – Minnesota has more loons than any other state! Pam shared beautiful pictures of loons, including ones taken from under water, as she shared their life cycle and fascinating behaviors. This included the “penguin pose” when the loons stand up in the water and churn it with their feet. Pam said this behavior is a great indication that something in the area is disturbing the loons. The common loon weighs from eight to twelve pounds, has a wingspan of almost five feet, and has a broad, torpedo-shaped body. Its bill is shaped like a dagger. The loon isn’t adapted for walking on land because its legs are so near the rear of the body. The males and females are identical in appearance, but the males tend to be slightly larger.

Loons’ distinctive red eyes filter light under water and permit better vision when the loons are diving. A salt gland located under the skin above each eye makes it possible for loons to change their body physiology when they move from freshwater in the summer to saltwater in the winter. Loons are amazing divers and are well equipped to catch fish under water. The loons are able to expel air from their bodies, force air from between their feathers, and to sink or dive to depths of more than 100 feet. Dives as long as five minutes have been recorded!

Loons build their nests within several feet of the shore, on floating weed mats, islands or platforms provided by loon watchers. One or two olive-brown, spotted eggs are laid. Both the male and female loons incubate the eggs. The period of nesting and first two weeks of the chicks’ lives are the most critical times to protect the loons from any disturbance. If the parents are unable to distract intruders, the loons may abandon their nest. Each pair of loons defends a territory of 60 to 100 acres, depending on the lake, from other loons. As civilization encroaches, loons are retreating to more isolated lakes for the undisturbed habitat they require for reproduction. Loons are not an endangered species in Minnesota, but they need to be carefully watched to ensure their survival. One of the threats facing loons is the use of lead fishing sinkers and shot. Loons actually swallow small stones to help grind their food. Loons pick up the lead sinkers or ingest lead by eating fish which have themselves swallowed sinkers. Loss of balance, tremors, gasping, and impaired flying ability are all characteristics of birds poisoned with lead. Loons often die within two weeks of eating the lead.

The Nongame Wildlife Check-off on state income and property tax forms helps protect loons and provides critical support to the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. For more information about this program, loons, or the volunteer loon monitoring program, check out or call the Minnesota DNR at 1-800-766-6000.