Montana Extra News Feature

ZEBRA AND QUAGGA MUSSELS: UPSETTING THE BALANCE OF SPECIES AND ENVIRONMENT
By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish,Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

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"Invasive species typically have no control agents--no predators, parasites or pathogens—in their new environments, so they can quickly increase in number and become dominant within a system," said Eileen Ryce, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks exotic species coordinator.

The first recorded quagga mussels west of the Continental Divide were found by a diver in 2007 in Lake Mead on the Colorado River east of Las Vegas. Zebra mussels, a relative, were found in the West for the first time in 2008, and are now in California and in Colorado, Ryce said.

FWP is continuously monitoring Montana’s waters in an attempt to ensure that if quagga and zebra mussels make it to Montana they are detected early so the public can be informed where they are and how to prevent their spread.

"Delaying the appearance of zebra and quagga mussels in Montana, and detecting it as quickly as possible after it occurs, increases the liklihood of limiting the immediate impact," Ryce said. "Later on, new tools may be available to help us minimize the threat to our waters."

The cost to keep boats, motors, pulleys, water filtering systems and fish ladders working and clear of these exotic mussels runs in the millions, maybe billions of dollars elsewhere in the U.S. It is impossible to put a price on their environmental impacts—especially in Montana with its blue ribbon trout streams, recreational lakes, and important manmade reservoirs to protect.

Unlike native freshwater mussels, zebra and quagga mussels are able to attach themselves to hard surfaces of any kind by an external organ, a byssus, made of up many threadlike appendages. These mussels grow in thick layers on boats, pilings, water-intake pipes, even on other creatures such as crayfish, turtles, and native freshwater mussels.

Ryce said zebra and quagga mussels also filter significant amounts of water in their search for the minute organic matter they feed on.

"The water gets clearer and clearer in these infested lakes and rivers, which appears at first to be a good thing, but it is not," said Ryce. "The clear water is a sign that these harmful mussels are filtering out all of the nutrients needed by other species, including larval fish, adult fish, mollusks and birds which begin to decline."

Invasive mussels can also survive up to a month out of water, making them excellent travelers on boats, gear and in live wells too.

"Zebra and quagga mussels are here to stay in the West," Ryce said. "Our goal in Montana is to thwart their invasion for as long as possible."

Montana is already home to some aquatic invasive species. New Zealand mudsnails can be found in the Yellowstone, Madison, Missouri, Big Hole, Ruby, and Big Horn rivers among others. Whirling disease, an invasive parasite, is in many waters throughout western Montana.

To learn more about aquatic nuisance species, go to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov   on the Fishing page and look for the aquatic nuisance species link.

 

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SIDEBAR:

USE SAFE WATER RECREATION PRACTICES, JUST IN CASE New populations of invasive species may be present for two to three years before they are discovered, based on experiences in other states. The best defense is to treat all bodies of water as potentially contaminated, especially when traveling from out-of-state into Montana. Three easy prevention steps are to inspect, clean and dry your boat, trailer and equipment.

In addition, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recommends these practices:

·       drain all water from watercraft before leaving the immediate area of a lake or

      reservoir,

·       remove all weeds, mud or attached organisms from boat, trailer, jet skis and other

      recreational craft,

·       never move live fish, aquatic invertebrates or plants from one body of water to

     another . It is unlawful to release aquarium or bait fish into Montana waters.

·       dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, never bring live bait into Montana,

·       rinse and clean live wells, use hot soapy water or a weak bleach solution,

·       wash the exterior of your boat and trailer with hot water under high pressure,

·       allow boat to dry in between trips to different water bodies; ideally for five days.

Please report any potential sightings of zebra or quagga mussels (see description below) immediately to FWP at: 406-444-2449.   If possible, collect a sample, place it in a jar or plastic baggie and note the specific location and date.

To learn more about aquatic nuisance species, go to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov   on the Fishing page and look for the aquatic nuisance species link.