.<\/p>\n
In a statement given to WDAY News, the DNR says there\u2019s no scientific consensus that removing waterfowl will reduce swimmer\u2019s itch \u2014 and warns that doing so could cause ecological harm.<\/p>\n
The agency also emphasized that swimmer\u2019s itch, while uncomfortable, is not considered a public health threat. It doesn\u2019t spread person-to-person and is compared to other natural irritants like poison ivy.<\/p>\n
Instead, the DNR recommends personal precautions, like towel drying immediately after swimming, as the best defense.<\/p>\n
Dr. Curt Blankespoor of Swimmer’s Itch Solutions says this variant of swimmer’s itch is more powerful than what lake people are likely used to, and that the usual solutions aren’t as effective.<\/p>\n
He also says humanely moving the merganser duck has worked before, including on five different lakes in Michigan.<\/p>\n
“You’re never going to eradicate swimmer’s itch. No lake is going to be able to do that unless you put a dome over their entire lake. But you can certainly … we’ve shown that with what we do, removing the broods, we can reduce by 90 to 95% the number of cases and the severity of the cases,” Blankespoor said.<\/p>\n
The scientists will share their findings at the annual Pelican Lake Property Owners Association meeting on Saturday, July 19.<\/p>\n
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