Zebra Mussel FAQs
About Monitoring
Early Detection of Zebra Mussels in
Inland Waters by Citizen Volunteers
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
What are They?
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Small “D”-shaped clams
Dark brown and white stripes
Native to Caspian and Black seas
Arrived in Great Lakes in 1980s in the
freshwater ballast of ships
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
Why Concern?
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Damage ecology of lakes and rivers
Colonize in thick mats on docks, boats,
motors, and submerged rocks
Kill native mussels
Foul beaches with sharp shells and
pungent odor
Compete with fish for food
Clog water supply pipes and boat engines
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Zebra Mussel FAQs:
No known way to get rid of them!
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
Where Are They?
Zebra Mussel Distribution
· Spread to many rivers and connected
waters in eastern U.S.
· Found in inland lakes in only a
few states
· Not spread far
· Thousands of lakes to protect
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
What Do They Look Like?
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Larvae (veligers) are microscopic
Very young feel like fine sandpaper
on smooth surfaces, like boat hulls
Grow to size of peppercorns
Can quickly form barnacle-like
colonies
Adults over 1/2” long can
reproduce
Veliger
Zebra mussel “peppercorn”
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
How Can They Spread?
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Fouled boat hulls
Plants clinging to boat, motor,
trailer and other equipment
(zebra mussels can attach to
plants)
Water in bait buckets, livewells,
and other areas and equipment
that hold water
Scuba gear
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Zebra Mussels FAQs:
Who Can Spread Them?
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Boaters and anglers
Sailboat users
Personal watercraft users
Recreational wild baitfish
harvesters
Waterfowl hunters
Scuba divers
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Zebra Mussel FAQs:
How Can I Prevent Spread?
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BEFORE launching….BEFORE leaving:
Remove aquatic plants and animals
Drain lake or river water
Dispose of unwanted live bait on shore
Rinse boat and equipment with high
pressure, hot water, if moored for more than
a day, OR
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Dry everything for at least 5 days
Protect Your Property and
Our Water Resources
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Zebra Mussels:
How Can I Help?
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Help build public awareness
Know threats posed
Learn to recognize
Become a volunteer monitor
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Zebra Mussel Monitoring:
Why Should I Help?
· Essential to success for prevention
and control
· Implement containment measures
· Develop new control techniques
· Mitigate impacts on water users
· Because it’s our personal
responsibility
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Zebra Mussel
Monitoring Program
- Option 1Water Sampling
· Sample kits (available on-loan in
some states)
· Volunteers sample two times during
summer, ship water samples to lab
for analyses, and ship kit back
· Cost is about $100 per season
Taking samples
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Zebra Mussel
Monitoring Program
- Option 2 Visual Inspection for Juveniles and Adults
· Visually inspect two times per season
· Examine pontoons, boat lifts, docks, &
swimming platforms especially when
removing for winter
· Can use PVC (4” dia. X 24” long) or
brick tied to rope
· Always report effort whether you found
zebra mussels or not
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Resources for
Zebra Mussel Monitoring
Detecting Zebra Mussels video
and
Detecting Zebra Mussels: A
Monitoring Program for Citizens
Contact MI Sea Grant, 517/353-5508
Minnesota Zebra Mussel
Watch: Volunteer Monitor
Instruction Guide
Contact MN Sea Grant, 218/726-8712
or MNDNR, 651/297-4888
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Zebra Mussel Monitoring
· Contributes to database
· Maintains healthy ecosystems
· Brings people together around
a common interest
· Fosters a sense of community
· Provides an early warning
program critical for resource
protection
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Veliger Monitoring
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Written and produced by
Mike Klepinger
ANS Program Coordinator
Michigan Sea Grant
Insert Video
Video written by
Carol Swinehart
Michigan Sea Grant
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