WHATS BEING DONE TO STOP ZEBRA MUSSELS?
Zebra mussels can spread to inland waters either as veligers transported in water, or as adults attached to boat hulls, engines, bait traps, or on other items. Veligers don’t survive drying, but they can survive in any small pool of water. Adult zebra mussels can close their shells and survive drying for several days. In moist environments, they can survive out of the water even longer. A checklist to help you prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other exotic species from one body of water to another is found in The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ handy field guide to Exotic Species, written in cooperation with Minnesota Sea Grant and the Bell Museum of Natural History: 1. Remove plants and animals from your boat, trailer, and accessory equipment (anchors, centerboards, trailer hitch, wheels, rollers, cables, and axles) before leaving the water access area. 2. Drain your livewells, bilge water, and transom wells before leaving the water access area. 3. Empty your bait buc
