An invader is creeping into Muskoka’s lakes and it’s looking to choke out the local competition.
Eurasian watermilfoil is an invasive species that has been spreading across Ontario since being discovered in Lake Eerie in the early 60s. Muskoka Watershed Council representative Brooke Forward says the water weed has been spreading into Muskoka’s waterways from Georgian Bay.
Watermilfoil is most often spread by boat propellers cutting into the roots and dragging the plant into a new lake.
Forward says the plant can be identified by its 12 or more thread-like segments along the stem. You can learn more about how to identify and stop the spread of this invasive species here.