Mussel

Shell-Shocked: Idaho's Battle Against Invasive Quagga Mussels

A year after spotting the first quagga mussel, Idaho is still testing and cleaning up. Dive into the mussel madness!

A year after the first sighting of the notorious quagga mussel, Idaho is still diligently working on testing and cleaning efforts to control the spread. These invasive bivalves, originally from Eastern Europe, have a knack for causing ecological and economic havoc wherever they go. First appearing in the Great Lakes in the 1980s, quagga mussels have since made their way across the United States, hitching rides on boats and other watercraft. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has been at the forefront of the state's battle against these aquatic invaders. From mandatory boat inspections to extensive public awareness campaigns, no stone—or shell—has been left unturned. Just how effective are these measures? While it's too early to declare victory, early results show promise. Fun fact: a single quagga mussel can filter up to a liter of water per day, stripping ecosystems of crucial nutrients. That's equivalent to this article filtering through tons of fascinating facts for you! And here's another nugget for you: these mussels are prolific breeders. A single female can produce up to a million eggs per year. Talk about shell-shocked!