By Chris Brown

sold at pet and garden stores

Invasive zebra mussels getting into Alberta through moss balls

Mar 11, 2021 | 4:49 PM

Alberta Environment says people must take action immediately if they have purchased a certain type of moss balls after Jan. 1.

Live zebra mussels have been found in moss (Marimo) balls recently imported into Alberta. Moss balls are commonly sold at pet and garden stores.

Environment Minister Jason Nixon says people must destroy the moss balls one of two ways. They can be placed in a sealed, plastic bag and frozen, preferably in a deep freezer, for at least 24 hours or placed in boiling water for at least one minute.

Afterward, dispose of them by placing them and any packaging in a sealed plastic bag and then with the rest of your household garbage.

“Invasive mussels pose a serious threat to Alberta’s aquatic ecosystems and fisheries. They can cause millions of dollars in damage to water infrastructure, such as irrigation canals. Our efforts in past years coupled with the cooperation of Albertans have meant that Alberta remains largely free of zebra mussels.”

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“While retailers and distributors across the province have been proactive in removing moss balls from store shelves, we are asking Albertans to take action to ensure zebra mussels are not inadvertently released into our environment.”

Do not flush the moss ball, do not put it down the drain, and do not compost, says Alberta Environment.

Zebra mussels are listed under the Fisheries (Alberta) Act as a prohibited species. It is illegal to possess, release, sell or transport these species within the province.

Canada’s fisheries and oceans department says zebra mussels are one of the biggest aquatic invasive threats in Canada.

Once established, these invasive mussels multiply quickly and can harm Canada’s aquatic ecosystems by altering food webs, damaging habitats, and out-competing native species for food. They also have the potential to cause substantial, costly damage by clogging intake structures in power stations and water treatment plants as well as damaging watercrafts.

For more information visit the Alberta government website or Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

(CHAT News Today)