OGEMAW COUNTY, Mich. -- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fisheries Oceans Canada said it will apply lampricides to sections of the Rifle River system in Arenac and Ogemaw counties to kill sea lamprey larvae burrowed in the stream bottom.

Sea lamprey larvae live in certain Great Lakes tributaries and transform to parasitic adults that migrate to the Great Lakes and kill fish.

Wildlife officials said failure to kill the larvae in streams would result in significant damage to the Great Lakes fishery.

Infested areas must be treated every three to five years with lampricides to control sea lamprey populations.

Each lamprey in Lake Huron consumes nearly 40 pounds of lake trout and salmon during its parasitic life.

Wildlife experts will be conducting

The applications of lampricides will be conducted until Sept. 25.