Contact Info
PO Box 237
14006 Discovery Lane
Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
P: 715-543-2085
Where are Zebra Mussels (ZM) from and how did they get here?
ZM are native to the Caspian Sea in Europe. They came to North America as veligers through the ballast water of ships. Veligers are the larval form of ZM. They spread inland as veligers in recreational boats, and as adults stuck to equipment. Zebra mussels can remain out of water for up to two weeks.
How do I identify ZM?
ZM are small, fingernail-sized animals. The are 1/4-1/2 inch long, and are D-shaped with alternating brown stripes.
How do ZM affect Wisconsin water bodies?
ZM reproduce rapidly, with each female zebra mussel producing up to 500,000 eggs per year. They create deep mats on any hard surface within a lake, including on docks, in pipes, and around native mussels (ultimately smothering and killing the native mussel).
ZM are voracious filter feeders. They filter tiny food particles out of the water, which reduces food availability for other lake critters.
What can be done once ZM enter a water body?
The Minnesota DNR and partners have used pesticides to treat zebra mussels in several Minnesota lakes. Studies are still in progress to determine large-scale suitability of the pesticides.
Boaters and recreational lake uses are strongly encouraged to check their boats, trailers, docks, and other equipment before moving them away from lakes, and also to drain all water from boats before leaving the landings.
additional resources
Manitowish Waters Lakes Association
Wisconsin DNR Aquatic Invasive Species
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) Invasive Species Area Maps
books (available for loan)
Lake Plants You Should Know- A Visual Field Guide, University of Wisconsin- Extension
Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest- A Photographic Field Guide To Our Underwater Forests, Paul Skawinski
Through the Looking Glass- A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants, Susan Borman, Robert Korth, and Jo Temte.
Saving Our Lakes and Streams, James A. Brakken