Source: Defenders of Wildlife
Sniffing dogs, watercraft inspections and heavy fines are all tools being employed by the Alberta government in it’s attempt to keep invasive mussels out of the province. Mussels are a bigger issue than people think, they can reportedly cause millions in damage. They stick to hard surfaces, accumulate and even choke out canals, pipes and drains. In fact, even ONE mussel can happen to have millions of eggs, causing an infestation.
Inspection stations will be set up for watercraft along the provinces borders, including mussel-sniffing dogs, as the province increases it’s canine teams from 1 to 3.
Skipping these inspections could carry a $5000 dollar fine, and failure to remove a watercraft drain plug carries a $600 dollar fine. The province says it’s looking to move towards a total mussel-free province, much like the prevention of rat populations in the Alberta.
In Alberta, 12 stations are slated to be open this year.
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