08/20/2026
Twelve contractor bags with roughly 250 pounds of trash were removed from the Hennepin and Spirit Island National Wildlife Refuge during today's annual cleanup. The 11 member cleanup crew found the following items in these nesting areas: broken fishing rods and reels, fishing line, zip ties, aluminum cans, ice skimmers, floating minnow scoops, mouth spreaders, bobbers, fishing lures, fishing leaders, frayed rope, strapping, sunglasses, bungee cords, electrical wiring, phone chargers, spatulas, silverware and more. One young cormorant was found dead entangled in fishing line in its nest. Please do your part to Keep It Clean! Make a plan to properly contain and dispose of your trash before heading out on the ice or water. And thanks to Walt Ford, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Cody Carlstrom, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, and Perry Bunting, MLBO Director of Environmental Programs, for including Keep It Clean Mille Lacs in the cleanup effort! It was great spending the day with you!
