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Officials Look To Prevent Spread Of Invasive Zebra Mussels

Associated Press0

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An invasive species of small mollusks seen sporadically in the Dakotas in past years is establishing a population in two river systems.

Zebra mussels of multiple sizes were found recently on multiple boats moored in South Dakota’s Lewis and Clark Lake, a Missouri River reservoir in the southeastern part of the state. The mussels surely will work their way downstream, but state officials are upping their boat inspections to prevent the nuisance critters from hitching rides upstream or into other waterways.

Last month, North Dakota’s Game and Fish Department found a significant number of zebra mussel larvae called veligers in the Red River north of Wahpeton.

Zebra mussels can clog intake pipes and compete for algae. They hail from Eastern Europe, first appearing in North America in 1988.

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