Don't give exotic hitch- hikers a ride on or in your boat. Inspect your boat, motor, trailer, and equipment such as anchors, centreboards, rollers and axles. Remove any zebra mussels and other animals and plants that are visible before leaving any waterbody. Drain water from the motor, live well, bilge and transom wells on land, before moving to another body of water. Wash or dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer and other boating equipment to kill harmful species that were not visible at the boat launch.
Some aquatic species can survive more than two weeks out of water.
Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving any body of water. Never release live bait into water, or release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another. Learn how to identify zebra mussels and other exotic species. Call the Invading Species Hotline or your local office of the M.N.R. for the latest guide to harmful exotic species. For more information, or to contact the O.F.A.H., email can be sent to them directly.