Zebra mussel discovered in state

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of a zebra mussel veliger in the Red River between Wahpeton and Breckenridge, Minn. The veliger, the microscopic free-swimming (young) stage of the zebra mussel, was isolated from a recent routine plankton sample taken at Kidder Dam.

Zebra mussels are an aquatic nuisance species introduced into North America and currently found in many states east and south of here.

“We are disappointed, but not surprised that zebra mussels have entered the Red River,” said Lynn Schlueter, Game and Fish aquatic nuisance species coordinator.

Zebra mussel veligers can float along in river currents for weeks before eventually attaching to hard structures and growing into dime-sized mussels.

Tags: getting outside, game and fish, red river, zebra mussel, outdoors