Extreme cases of ‘swimmer’s itch’ in parts of Minnesota put mergansers in crosshairs

DNR officials were faced with a decision: whether or not to allow the take – killing – of common mergansers on two Minnesota waters where lakeshore residents say swimmer’s itch has become more than an inconvenience. They say it’s moved into territory that could more accurately be defined as a health risk.
Late last week, the DNR rejected a proposed permit that would’ve allowed for the capture and euthanizing of up to 100 mergansers from Pelican Lake in west-central Minnesota’s Otter Tail County, as well as up to 30 from Bay Lake in Crow Wing County.

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