Latest news with #MusselDogs
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Unlikely heroes emerge to protect local lake from dangerous menace: 'In their mind, they're playing a huge game of hide and seek'
Two dogs, Splash and Minnow, are helping protect Rancho Seco Lake in California against invasive golden mussels. The golden mussels haven't reached Rancho Seco Lake yet, and that's in large part due to a new company, Mussel Dogs. According to CBS News, Debi DeShon's 16 dogs sniff the boats before they are allowed to enter the lake. Company owner DeShon said, "Dogs in their mind, they're playing a huge game of hide and seek. She trained the dogs on golden, zebra, and quagga mussels by covering balls with their scent and teaching the canines to find them in boxes and sit or stare at them. "The golden mussel is the newest one in our area," DeShon explained. Golden mussels, which are native to Asia, "are now spreading through delta waterways, harming native species and water clarity," per CBS News. They attach themselves to kayaks and boats, and in their larval stage, they are almost undetectable. Once these mussels get into the lake, it's too late. That's why detecting the mussels before they enter the waterway is vital. It's a good thing Splash and Minnow think it's all a game because keeping the invasive mussels out of the lake is a pretty big responsibility. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Invasive species can take a significant toll on the economy, costing the U.S. $20 billion annually for cleanup and management. According to Science News, Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes are among the most financially draining invasive species, costing the world nearly $150 billion. It's not just a loss of money. Invasive species are also harmful to public health. For instance, these two mosquito species wreaked havoc by spreading yellow and dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya. That's also where most of the cost stems from. Invasive species can drive native species to extinction, which has a domino effect. When one animal disappears, it can disrupt the food chain, causing more organisms to vanish. Luckily, Rancho Seco Lake has Splash and Minnow and the other Mussel Dogs, many of which are rescues. You can take local action to combat invasive species by volunteering to remove them and educating yourself and others about unwelcome invaders in your area. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Police dog comes out of retirement to fight dangerous menace: 'Alarming reminder of the imminent threat we face'
A dog named Puddles is sniffing out invasive mussels that are disrupting local ecosystems in Washington. As KIRO 7 News reported, Puddles is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to detect and remove mussels tagging along on watercraft. Puddles was a police dog before retiring and has come out of retirement to help with the local mussel problem. Invasive quagga and zebra mussels are problematic because they filter out algae that native species need for food. This disruption drastically alters aquatic food chains by depleting natural resources essential for native species' survival. Invasive mussels also cause economic damage by clogging water pipes and damaging infrastructure. Mussels play a significant role in the financial burden of resource damage and management in rivers, lakes, and oceans worldwide. Meanwhile, conservation agencies are working in Colorado, Wisconsin, California, and many other places to control invasive mussel species. Puddles and her handler, retired police sergeant Pam Taylor, are working at Lake Roosevelt in Northeast Washington to find invasive mussels. They are working with Mussel Dogs, a mussel-sniffing training company, to lead new dog recruits and their owners. The local fish and wildlife department enlists the help of another mussel-sniffing dog named Fin. The Lake Roosevelt National Park Service funds the dogs' watercraft launch work through a grant. The department is looking for an additional mussel-sniffing dog to add to its team because the volume of mussels impacting the area is so extensive. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In early January, the department removed the largest volume of invasive quagga and zebra mussels from a single vessel in history — 21 gallons. According to the Washington Invasive Species Council, "This is an alarming reminder of the imminent threat we face; if these mussels establish in WA, mitigation alone will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. You can help out by always cleaning, draining, and drying your boat, gear, and clothing after recreating in, on, or near water." Local residents and anyone interested can keep up with the dogs' mussel detection work by following the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife's Facebook page. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
