Chemicals we use have intended consequences and, very often, unintended consequences, which is why we need to carefully think through how we use them.

Sea Lamprey, a parasitic fish native to Lake Champlain, use their specialized mouths to puncture, latch onto, and live off internal fluids of fish like Salmon and Trout. The Lamprey population in Lake Champlain expanded when man-made canals connected the Lake to other bodies of water. The enlarged Lamprey population took a toll on native fish and the recreational fishing community. For some folks, this meant we needed to use chemical controls.

Sea Lamprey lay their eggs in rivers around Lake Champlain. Young Sea Lamprey remain in these rivers for up to seven years. To control the problematic Lamprey population, Lampricide, a pesticide, is applied to these rivers to kill the young lamprey. The intended consequence: reduced numbers of lamprey in the lake; less scarring on salmon and trout.

Another species native to Lake Champlain, the Mudpuppy, is Vermont’s largest amphibian. They are found in some of the same streams where the young lamprey are found. They can grow up to 16" long and have bizarre looking external gills. They are nocturnal and spend the daylight hours hidden amongst rocks on river and lake bottoms, which makes it difficult to determine their population size.

Mudpuppies, like all amphibians, absorb chemicals through their skin far more rapidly than other animals. While we can drink municipally supplied water, typically treated with chlorine, an amphibian simply soaked in that same water would quickly perish.

In 2009, the Lamoille River, home for young lamprey and other species, including mudpuppies, was treated with lampricide. Over 500 mudpuppies died. Given the mudpuppies elusive nocturnal lifestyle, biologists could not determine if a small or a large portion of the mudpuppy population had died. The unintended consequence.

Lampricide is but one of many helpful chemicals that impacts wildlife with unintended consequences. If we learn about chemicals, where we use them, where they end up, and their unintended consequences, maybe we can better take care of our wildlife.

What Can you do: Each of us can change seemingly small things we do with chemicals that together can help create a healthier habitat for wildlife. For example, if washing cars, stay away from lawns to avoid exposing amphibians to chlorinated water or soap. Lawn care? Pass on the pesticides. If it is a healthier habitat for wildlife, it is a healthier habitat for us!

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Animal Care Staff coordinate environmental programs at ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. The center, which works to engage families in the wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain., partnered with the Burlington Free Press to publish this feature.

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