Posted on 09/03/2017 8:11:31 PM PDT by Utilizer
The United States has been invaded, not by a foreign army or extraterrestrials, but by two species of freshwater mollusks commonly called quagga and the lesser-known zebra mussels.
Invasive species are of great concern to fishery biologists and to local officials, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office and to PG&E, owners of Lake Almanor, as well as Bucks Lake near Quincy and nearby Butt Lake near Humbug Valley.
State and federal agencies have joined forces to avert further infestations of quagga mussels and are urging boaters to help stop the spread of the non-native mollusks in California.
According to information from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife website, “A multi-agency taskforce, including the California Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Boating and Waterways, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Services, and many local governments and water agencies, have launched a statewide outreach campaign to alert the public — and particularly boat owners — about the mussel threat.”
These agencies, along with local authorities and other stakeholders, seek to coordinate efforts to prevent and control harmful invasive species infestations throughout the state with oversight by the California Invasive Species Council, whose mission is to assist in minimizing the negative effects of non-native species on the state’s agriculture lands, natural resources and waterways in rural and urban environments.
(Excerpt) Read more at plumasnews.com ...
Any idea what that thing was? I’ve a feeling that info might come in handy here in the not-too-distant future.
Well, but the same is true about oysters and crabs, and people eat them notwithstanding.
No, sorry. But I imagine whatever it was will be along. Nature is not one to pass by a good meal.
As I understand it, it is pronounced “byoot”, as in “She’s a real beaut”, or “Da two yoots”...
But I am not an area native, so I could be wrong. :)
Hmm. Well, I imagine you are right but it would have been helpful to know so some of the locals could have begun importing it into the area to help with combating this upcoming threat.
Belongs in Sven & Ole Land...
According to Wiki, zebra mussels are eaten by crayfish, smallmouth bass, and some species of birds, although it doesn’t name the birds.
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Dreissena_polymorpha/ has a list of fish that will eat them.
I think it’s the source that matters. Zebra mussels filter the water. Probably oysters too, but I’m not so sure about crabs.
Harvest them and dry them out. Grind them finely for fertilizer.
Ok... That must have really stretched out the creative skills of someone in Marketing.
Some particular species of birds might be the answer here, as we see quite a few during the migrating season.
Unfortunately, crabs eat decaying tissues such as dead bodies, which is why people are warned not to eat them for 2 to 3 years after there has been a shipwreck close to shore.
In WWII, the Norwegians sank the heavy cruiser Blucher with heavy casualties 
during the invasion of Oslo. The Norges didn't eat local mackerel for years for the same reason.
Like turkey vultures around there parts eat road kill - but I’d have to be awfully hunger to eat one of those.
How about lobsters - what do they eat?
Lobsters eat mostly rock scrapings, but bottom-sludge is an acceptable substitute if the local rocks have been cleared.
Basically, scum-snackers. Algae and the related simple-celled growths as the main food source.
Amazing how lobsters can turn that into the most wonderful meat, especially when it’s dipped in lemon butter :-)
Indeed. I also must admit to a small source of amusement from that when the topic of conversation happens to swing around to whether or not you could ever get hungry enough to eat a bug, and I ask them if they ever had lobster and if so whether or not they liked it.
Then watched their reaction when I tell them they ate a bug. *grin*
I know they’re bugs that I’ve in the water - but they just taste so gosh darn good!!
Speaking of bugs - having a crawfish boil tonight for dinner. I’m a Yankee - but I do love Southern cooking :-)
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