Invasive zebra mussels are on Maine's doorstep

MAINE PUBLIC • August 22, 2023

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has issued a warning that invasive zebra mussels have been found less than 30 miles from the state's border with Canada. Infestations have been found in a lake in Quebec that flows into the Madawaska River, which flows into the Saint John River. IF&W spokesperson Mark Latti says it's urgent that boaters in the Saint John River watershed take precautions to prevent spreading the mussels, which are often transported at their microscopic larval stage , when they aren't visible. "The best thing to do is to clean, dry, and drain your boat or your watercraft after being in a water body," he says.