Taking action to prevent the spread of invasive zebra mussels

Alberta’s government is asking anyone who purchased moss balls after -an. to destroy and dispose of them.

/ive zebra mussels, which are an invasive species, have been discovered in moss marimo balls, a spherical, plant like algae commonly sold at pet and garden stores throughout 1orth America, including in Alberta.

Albertans should destroy moss balls by freezing or boiling them, then placing the moss balls in a sealed plastic bag and disposing of them with their household trash. 0oss balls, and any water they were in, should not be flushed down the toilet, put down a drain or placed in a compost.

3lease read the instructions on treating and disposing of water that may have been exposed to zebra mussels. ATuarium owners should also inspect their aTuariums when preforming regular maintenance, such as water changes, for any organisms that were not intentionally put into the tank.

³Invasive mussels pose a serious threat to Alberta’s aTuatic ecosystems and fisheries. They can cause millions of dollars in damage to water infrastructure, such as irrigation canals. Our efforts in past years coupled with the cooperation of Albertans have meant that Alberta remains largely free of zebra mussels. :hile retailers and distributors across the province have been proactive in removing moss balls from store shelves, we are asking Albertans to take action to ensure zebra mussels are not inadvertently released into our environment.´

-ason 1ixon, 0inister of Environment and 3arks :ith shells measuring up to three centimetres, zebra mussels are difficult to spot ± but their small size doesn’t stop them from being destructive. They can clog water intake pipes, disrupt natural food chains and affect recreation areas when dead shells wash up on shores. =ebra mussels multiply rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate once established in an area.

0ussel fouled watercraft have been the main source of invasive mussels entering Alberta. 'uring the open water season, Alberta operates watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. The province’s watercraft inspection teams are assisted by three dogs trained to detect invasive zebra and Tuagga mussels. In addition, we encourage all Albertans to clean, drain and dry their watercraft and gear upon entry into the province.

4uick facts

'etailed instructions for destroying and disposing of moss balls and treating aTuarium water and contents can be found in the Alert regarding zebra mussels found in moss marimo balls. 0oss balls with invasive mussels have been discovered in British &olumbia, 6askatchewan and more than 0 8.6. states.

8nder the Fisheries Alberta Act, it is illegal to import, sell or possess a prohibited aTuatic invasive species like zebra mussels.

/ive zebra mussels were detected in a shipment of ,000 moss balls at a distributor in &algary on 0arch .

If you see moss balls still available for sale at a retailer, please call the ATuatic Invasive 6pecies hotline at 8 BOAT.