MISSOURI – As temperatures slowly start warming back up, more boaters are hitting the water, and the Missouri Department of Conservation has a warning: Watch out for hitchhikers.
The invasive zebra mussels have been in Missouri since 1991, just three years after being discovered in North American waters. This infamous species is known for causing significant damage to ecosystems and native fish.
MDC adds that the zebra mussels can “decimate populations…clog power plants, as well as industrial and public drinking water intakes, foul boat hulls, and motors.”
As they can be less than an inch long, it can be difficult to spot them. It is common for boaters to unknowingly move them around into new waters through motors, docks, pumps, and other equipment.
“Just because a river or lake does not have a known infestation of zebra mussels does not mean that they are immune,” MDC noted.
Currently, the zebra mussels are known to exist in many Missouri lakes, including:
- Blue Springs Lake
- Bull Shoals Lake
- Carrollton Recreation Lake
- Lake Jacomo
- Lake Lotawana
- Lake Taneycomo
- Lake of the Ozarks
- Longview Lake
- Prairie Lee Lake
- Smithville Lake
To prevent the spread of the zebra mussel, MDC encourages boaters to properly clean all equipment, drain all water before leaving the area, allow enough time for the boat to completely dry, and disposing of unused bait in a trash can.
To read the full release from MDC, click here.