How can the spread of zebra mussels be prevented?
The USGS documents the zebra mussel's geographic distribution and studies its behavior and biology. The resulting information is critical in helping to develop strategies aimed at containing and controlling the mussel's spread. Meanwhile, catching and transporting zebra mussels for use as bait, food, and aquarium pets is highly discouraged.
We also encourage good boat hygiene:
- Wash your boat off with warm, soapy water if possible
- Do not transport water from live wells and bait buckets from one water body to another; empty them onto land when possible and dispose of leftover bait in the trash. Most often the bait fish are not native to that water, just like the zebra mussels.
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Detailed view of a Quagga Mussel (right) and a Zebra Mussel.
Detailed view of a Quagga Mussel (right) and a Zebra Mussel. Image credit: USGS.
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Invasive Zebra Mussels
| The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) is a small, non-native mussel originally found in Russia. In 1988, this animal was transported to North America in the ballast water of a transatlantic |
Zebra Mussels on rock
Zebra Mussels on rock.
Titleist golf ball covered in zebra mussels
Titleist infested with multiple age groups of newly settled and previously settled zebra mussels. Collected by physical survey from a transect on Maple Lake near Alexandria, Minnesota
Zebra Mussels, Dreissena polymorpha
Zebra Mussel
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