Checkpoints to prevent zebra and quagga mussels from entering Alberta have gone to the dogs.
Five dogs, to be exact.
The canines have been trained to identify the invasive mussels that can hitch rides on boats and aquatic equipment when they enter the province from another infested province or U.S. state.
Zebra and quagga mussels have potential to damage ecosystems and clog waterways and pumping equipment should they infest provincial waters. The mollusks have already done major damage in parts of the United States and Canada and have been slowly spreading in North America.
They were discovered in Lake Winnipeg in October 2013.
According to an Alberta government news release, the province has teamed up with Montana, the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association and the Working Dogs for Conservation to create this pilot project.
It is the first of its kind to use dogs on both sides of the international border to detect zebra and quagga mussels. The dogs were trained in California and the costs were borne by the Alberta and Montana governments.
An infestation of mussels in Alberta would have an estimated cost of more than $75 million annually, the news release said. That includes damage to infrastructure and recreational opportunities.
Once they have a foothold, the invasive mussels are almost impossible to eradicate and they multiply very quickly.
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Alberta launched a concentrated effort earlier this year to educate travelers about the risk of bringing the mussels back in bilge water, boats and other aquatic equipment. Cleaning, draining and drying boats has been encouraged.
Those who think they have seen the invasive mussels can report to Alberta’s invasive species hotline at 1-855-336-BOAT (2628).
A video about Working Dogs for Conservation can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWa8rrNJZDY.
