This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

Aug. 26, 2024Jefferson City, Mo. |  By: Jeremy Werner

MDC urging aquarium owners and others to check moss balls

moss balls

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Conservation is urging retailers and aquarium owners to inspect moss balls for potential zebra mussel infestations after reports of the invasive species were found in Washington state.

Zebra mussels, which were first discovered in Missouri in 1991, pose a serious threat by clogging water systems, damaging ecosystems, and harming fisheries.

The MDC warns that infected moss balls could spread zebra mussels if aquarium water is disposed of improperly.

Retailers and aquarium owners who purchased moss balls in the past year should check for zebra mussels and decontaminate or safely dispose of any infested products.

If zebra mussels are found, they should be reported to a local MDC Regional Office. For guidance on proper disposal and decontamination, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website or mdc.mo.gov.