Dear Duck Hunters,
We are asking you to hunt mergansers on Lake Margrethe as they are the primary waterfowl carrying swimmer’s itch.  Swimmer’s itch is a very irritating skin rash caused by a parasite (shistosome) which infect the merganser. Recent studies on Higgins Lake have confirmed that the merganser is the primary carrier.  It is not hard to draw the conclusion that this is also true on Lake Margrethe.  Michigan’s hunting season (for mergansers) extends from Oct. 3- Nov.29 and Dec. 12-13.   

We realize it is not the mergansers fault and it is a wonderful bird.  However, at this point if we can cull the population we can at least decrease the number of broods that are here next year.

 The LMPOA board would appreciate a count of mergansers seen and/or shot.

We would also like to know if anyone could use the merganser for a stew or coyote bait.

Please contact Sandra Michalik at [email protected] 

Thanks again for your time and efforts.

Sandra Michalik
LMPOA Director
Swimmer's Itch Partnership Member

 

PLM, the lake management company that treats the lake for the invasive species, milfoil, was here on Sept. 2.  The later treatment date was due to high winds in previous weeks.  Sandra Michalik, LMPOA director, rode on the PLM boat using her GPS to locate treatment spots.  Thanks to Gary McConnell and Len Bingert for helping to identify treatment sites.  Also, thanks to Len and Ken Michalik for following behind and picking up all the buoys.  

Other treatment options are being investigated, including a suction machines and aquatic beetles.