Zebra mussels have moved out of the Great Lakes into inland waterways. These tiny mollusks attach themselves to boats and fishing equipment, and their free-swimming young can live in standing water found in bait buckets and engine cooling systems. As boats are moved about, zebra mussels are often unknowingly transported from one body of water to another. Zebra mussels were transported from Europe in ballast water of ships and were found in the Great Lakes in 1988. The tiny mussels form large clusters that can clog water lines.
Damage can occur in boat engines if cooling systems are clogged.
These clusters represent costly threats to industries, municipal water plants and agricultural irrigation systems. Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge and transom wells while on land before leaving any waterbody. Empty bait buckets on land before leaving the waterbody. Never release live bait into a waterbody. Do not release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another.