Minnesota DNR Urges You To Buy Hot Dogs To Stop Invasive Species

I've heard of people fishing with hot dogs before, but it was one of those "I can't believe it worked" kind of stories. Well, in this case, it's the preferred bait for an invasive species, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is encouraging you to buy some franks and help out.

Rusty Crayfish Or 'Rusties

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shared the pun-filled post this week about rusty crayfish. They are called "rusties" for short. They are an invasive species that's present in about 300 of Minnesota's lakes.

Invasive Species

The Rusty Crayfish quickly becomes the dominant crayfish in a lake. They can alter the ecosystem and are especially damaging to lakes with wild rice.

Researchers tried using hot dogs as bait in minnow traps, and it worked remarkably well. They modified the minnow trap to have a larger opening that successfully traps the rusties, while allowing the release of bycatch species.

Read More: Minnesota Has 192 Lakes With The Same Name

DNR Needs Your Help

The DNR hopes that property owners and organizations will help fight the invasive species with their own crayfish traps and hot dogs. They even provide instructions on how to build your own crayfish trap.

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Now, the next question. How picky are these crayfish with hot dog brands? Do you think the cheap, fun dogs my kids won't eat will be enticing enough?