HELENA — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) identified a watercraft carrying invasive mussels on Monday Mar. 16.
The boat was being hauled north on U.S. Interstate 15 en route to British Columbia where it stopped at the recently opened Dillon watercraft inspection station. The watercraft was not launching in Montana.
Mussels were found on the motor of the boat, but they were dried up and dead.
The inspectors could not conduct a hot water decontamination because of freezing temperatures. The watercraft was locked to the trailer, and officials in Canada were notified and will follow up with their own inspection.
More than 112,00 watercraft were inspected at FWP watercraft inspection stations across the state in 2019.
FWP reminds all those transporting motorized or nonmotorized boats into Montana to have their watercraft inspected before launching. Boat owners are required to stop at all open watercraft inspection stations.
Information about watercraft inspection stations can be found here.
