Dogs key to mussels control
Man’s best friend could prove to also be one of his best allies in the fight to stop invasive mussel species from taking over Alberta’s lakes and waterways.
Cindy Sawchuk is in charge of the K9 Conservation Unit as part of Alberta Environment and Parks. The dogs complement the mandatory boat inspections program.
The unit has three dogs who are full-time invasive mussel inspectors and check boats for any sign of invasive species such as quagga and zebra mussels.
Currently, the dogs are part of a training program designed to expand their capabilities from having the ability to detecting the smell of mussels on a boat, to finding out if the animals can actually find a mussel attached to something along a shoreline.
“We would use this as a response if we were to get a positive hit for invasive mussels in our water anywhere in the region,” Sawchuk said.
When Montana announced the Tiber Reservoir had tested positive for invasive mussel larvae, Sawchuk said the dogs were taken to the reservoir in order to see if they were able to detect the presence of adults on shore.
“They know the game,” Sawchuk said. “The game is if you find the mussel odour, you get the reward. This is the first time they’ve actually had mussels naturally attached to a rock. They are alerting to it, and they are out on shorelines on the beach.”
The program has received a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services grant which will allow the K-9 units to be taken to Texas in order to further test the dog’s abilities when it comes to being able to detect microscopic mussel larvae.
“This is a really great collaboration we’ve got going on,” Sawchuk said. “Portland State University is helping us establish this study’s design. We’ll be able to see if this is something we can tap into the dogs as another tool.”
This is the third season for the program, which was certified in 2015.
Three handlers were matched up with three dogs, and then run through a specialized training program in collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Working Dogs for Conservation.
Additionally, the unit received an innovation grant from Alberta Environment and Parks in 2016 to train the dogs to detect an invasive weed only found in Fish Creek Provincial Park.
“Really, the dog’s abilities of detection for conservation purposes is unbelievable,” Sawchuk said.
The program runs along the eastern border of Alberta where the threat of mussels coming into the province is highest.
Sawchuk is also the lead on the Watercraft Inspections Program, and two new inspection stations are going to be opened on the Canada-U.S. border in response to the Tiber Reservoir announcement.
Sawchuk and her dog travel around the province and take part in awareness events designed to get people thinking about invasive species.
“We move around quite a bit,” she said.
“The dogs are really great ambassadors for the program. They create really great PR opportunities. We’ve had all kind of attention we probably wouldn’t have received by opening inspection stations.” Ultimately, though, it is the behaviour of the boaters that will decide whether invasive mussels will eventually make their way into Alberta.
“It’s imperative that boaters change their behaviour to the point where they are cleaning, draining and drying their boats, every single time they leave a water body,” said Sawchuk.
“This is the same message used throughout the entire Pacific Northwest. We cannot physically eliminate this risk without a change in their behaviour.”
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