The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Lake Sarah in Murray County.

The DNR released a report Thursday that a lake service provider business contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels on docks it removed from the lake for the season. DNR staff surveyed six locations around the lake and found multiple adult zebra mussels at all six locations.

The DNR also plans to bring in a conservation officer with a K9 trained to locate zebra mussels, to search other equipment at a nearby marina.

“It helps a lot when lake property owners, lake service businesses and others notify us when they’ve spotted an invasive species,” DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Heidi Wolf said.

Minnesota law requires keeping docks and lifts out of the water for at least 21 days before putting them into another body of water.

The DNR recommends these steps for lake property owners:

• Look on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons and rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period.

• Hire DNR-permitted lake service provider businesses to install or remove boats, docks, lifts and other water-related equipment. These businesses have received training on Minnesota’s aquatic invasive species laws and many have experience identifying and removing invasive species.

The DNR said people should contact their area aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have discovered an invasive species that has not already been confirmed in a lake. Also, the DNR said to take a photo of any newly discovered invasive species before removing it from equipment. Save specimens or leave them in place until the DNR can investigate.