Scientists Preparing to Exterminate Blood-Sucking Lampreys from Lake Michigan

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing to exterminate one type of invasive species, the Lampreys, to preserve the habitat of Lake Michigan. The creature is a jawless type of fish that sucks the blood of other marine life such as trout, salmon, and walleye. Scientists are prepared to use chemicals called lampricides to make sure that Lampreys no longer wreaks havoc on the Great Lakes, so says Headlines & Global News.

Lampreys have been a pest in the Great Lakes for over 50 years and, because they do not have natural predators in the region, the species is able to multiply far quicker than the adults can be exterminated. Scientists determined the best way to solve the lamprey problem was to develop a chemical that could kill the creature in the larvae form, when they're weak to chemical attacks. The chemicals developed by scientists are estimated to be 99 percent effective against lamprey larvae, while remaining harmless to other marine life. Scientists are still developing a chemical means to safely exterminate adult lampreys.

The treatment will begin June 4 and end June 15. It will take place in the sources that feed Lake Michigan, such as Mitchell Creek, Betsie River, and Platte River. Barriers are also being erected to prevent the larvae from reaching the lake in the first place. Thus, the hope is that lampreys will no longer flood Lake Michigan and the species will slowly die out.

Scientists have spent 50 years and $400 million dollars fighting lampreys, so hopefully this treatment is able to finally stop the menace of the Great Lakes.