Meet the Monsters Haunting the Waters of the Fox Valley and Green Bay

Forget Michael Myers—the real monsters this Halloween are lurking beneath the surface of the Fox-Wolf Watershed! As you plan your spooky adventures, whether you’re trick-or-treating in the Fox Valley or Green Bay, meet the environmental threats that haunt our lakes and rivers. These villains won’t be defeated with a hockey mask or kitchen knife, but with a little teamwork, we can keep our waters monster-free and Halloween fun watershed-friendly. 🎃

Just as Jason Voorhees stalks Crystal Lake, these environmental villains silently threaten our waterways. From slimy algae to invasive zebra mussels, these monsters might be out of sight, but they’re dangerously real. Let’s meet them—and learn how to fight back!

The Phosphorist

“Possessing Waters, Spewing Green Goo!”

Where It Strikes: Fox River, Lake Winnebago, Green Bay

The Phosphorist is here—an evil force that takes control of lakes and rivers, just like a demonic possession in The Exorcist. It uses phosphorus from fertilizers, grass clippings, and animal waste as its unholy fuel, spreading thick, green algae blooms that choke the life out of every waterway it touches. Under the Phosphorist’s grip, fish gasp for oxygen, plants wilt, and the once-beautiful waters are transformed into slimy, stinking nightmares.

Like a possessed soul, the lake becomes corrupted—its clear waters replaced by murky, algae-filled sludge. And just like an exorcism gone wrong, the Phosphorist keeps returning after every storm, bringing new blooms and foul odors. Unless the right steps are taken, this toxic force will haunt our rivers and lakes forever.

How to Fight It:

  • Use fertilizers only when necessary, and keep grass clippings away from storm drains.
  • Support watershed-friendly practices with help from the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance.

Clingers

The horde just keeps coming!

Where It Strikes: Lake Winnebago, Fox River, Wolf River

Clingers are like Clickers from The Last of Us—unstoppable, relentless, and spreading wherever they can latch on. These zombie-like zebra mussels invade lakes and rivers, clinging to boats, docks, and water pipes with an iron grip. Once they infest a waterway, they multiply fast, draining the nutrients that fish and plants need to survive. With fewer native species thriving, the water becomes too clear—making the perfect environment for harmful algae to grow.

Just like in a post-apocalyptic world, Clingers creep silently from lake to lake, hitching rides on boats and fishing gear. Their jagged shells litter beaches, cutting into bare feet, while colonies clog water pipes and infrastructure. Without action, Clingers will spread through the Fox-Wolf Watershed, turning vibrant ecosystems into lifeless wastelands faster than a horde of Clickers on the move.

How to Fight It:

Lampires

The Bloodsuckers of the Watershed

Where They Strike: Great Lakes, Rivers, and Streams near Green Bay

Beware the Lampire—a sea lamprey terror lurking in rivers and lakes, feeding on fish like a vampire of the deep. With its suction-cup mouth full of sharp teeth, it clamps onto its prey and drains their blood, leaving them too weak to survive. This invasive creature has slithered into the Great Lakes and waterways near Green Bay, turning once-thriving ecosystems into watery graveyards. Just like the infamous Nosferatu, it sneaks in silently, looking creepy and leaving destruction in its wake—making it harder for native fish to survive.

How to Fight It:

  • Back programs like the Great Lakes Fishery Commission that work to manage the sea lamprey invasion.
  • Follow fishing rules—some fish species help control the spread by feeding on lamprey larvae.
  • Get involved in watershed conservation efforts to stop these aquatic vampires from expanding their reach.

Floody Krueger

A Nightmare on Every Street!

Where It Strikes: Parking Lots, Streets, and Sidewalks

Freddy haunts dreams with terror, Floody haunts streets and waterways with polluted runoff. As rain pours down, stormwater gathers oil, fertilizer, pet waste, and trash, sweeping it all into nearby rivers and lakes. Fish and plants suffer in his toxic nightmare, while algae thrive on the chaos. If this waterborne slasher isn’t stopped, his sludge-filled trail will make rivers too dangerous for swimming and fishing—turning every trip to the lake into a horror story.

How to Fight It:

Trashenstein

“It’s ALLLITTER!”

Where It Strikes: Beaches, Parks, and Shorelines

Like Frankenstein’s monster, Trashenstein is cobbled together from every discarded bottle, wrapper, and bag. With every piece of trash, it surges back to life—“It’s aliiive!”—growing larger and more destructive. Trashenstein clogs rivers, traps animals in plastic, and turns parks into horror scenes that even Victor Frankenstein would fear. The more litter left behind, the harder it is to stop this monster from rampaging across shorelines and waterways.

How to Fight It:

  • Don’t litter—cut off Trashenstein’s lifeline.
  • Join area clean-up efforts to dismantle the monster bit by bit.

Tips for Fox-Wolf Friendly Trick-or-Treating in the Fox Valley and Green Bay

1. Use Reusable Trick-or-Treat Bags

Swap plastic bags for reusable ones that can hold more candy and last longer. Plus, no more worrying about your bag ripping halfway through the night! Using reusable bags also keeps stray plastic out of the environment. Win-win!

2. Stick to Neighborhood Routes

Staying close to home isn’t just more fun—it helps the environment, too! Driving less means fewer pollutants like oil, gas, and tire particles washing into rivers and lakes when it rains. Bonus: It’s a great way to meet neighbors and see more decorations!

3. Walk, Bike, or Scoot

Why take the car when you can stroll, pedal, or roll? Walking or biking with friends means fewer emissions, cleaner air, and more candy time! And the best part? The adventure is just as sweet as the treats.

4. Bring a Cleanup Bag for Litter

Keep the streets looking great by bringing along a small bag to pick up any stray wrappers or bottles you find. A cleaner neighborhood means less litter ending up in storm drains—and cleaner rivers and lakes for everyone to enjoy.

5. Spread the Word

Share these simple tips with friends, family, and neighbors. When everyone pitches in, the impact really adds up! A small effort from each of us makes our water cleaner and our Halloween so sustainable-it’s scary!

Keep Our Watershed Safe and Monster-Free This Halloween

Whether you’re trick-or-treating in the Fox Valley or Green Bay, Halloween can be about more than just spooky fun. Every action you take—from picking up trash to planting rain gardens—helps protect the Fox-Wolf Watershed from real environmental monsters.

Together, we can banish Flooddy Krueger, Trashenstein, and all the other monsters from our rivers and lakes. This Halloween, let’s enjoy the fun while making a difference for the environment. 🎃

This Halloween, let’s have fun while doing a little good for the watershed! With just a few small changes, you can enjoy trick-or-treating and help protect our beautiful rivers, lakes, and parks.

Questions? Comments? Contact Chris Acy, the AIS Coordinator covering Brown, Outagamie, Fond du Lac, Calumet, and Winnebago Counties at (920) 460-3674 or chris@fwwa.org!

Follow the Fox Wolf Watershed Alliance on our Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance Facebook page or @fox_wolf_watershed_alliance on Instagram! You can also sign-up for email updates at fwwa.org.

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization that identifies and advocates effective policies and actions that protect, restore, and sustain water resources in the Fox-Wolf River Basin.