Mainers asked to watch out for Zebra mussels in northern rivers and lakes

Wildlife officials are on the lookout for an invasive species of mussel that has come uncomfortably close to Maine, and they are enlisting the public’s help. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is seeking volunteers to help monitor lakes and other water bodies in northern Maine. So far, there have been more than 100 people expressing interest. Small as they are, zebra mussels can cause big problems, especially in large numbers. Stankowski said they can wreak havoc on local ecosystems by consuming all the nutrients in an area, denying them to other animals such as fish.