Where can invasive zebra mussels be found? <!-- biology, wildlife, invasive species -->
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USGS Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
Where can invasive zebra mussels be found?
Answer:
Zebra mussels spread rapidly throughout the Great Lakes region and in the large navigable rivers of the eastern Mississippi drainage including the Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, Arkansas, and Illinois rivers. They can also be found in the Hudson River on the Atlantic Slope. Barge traffic in these large rivers helped to disperse zebra mussel their first few years here. Since then, dispersal has been mostly into small lakes within the Great lakes region. Currently, there are more than two hundred and thirty lakes that have zebra mussels. Much of this recent dispersal can probably be attributed to recreational activities such as boating and fishing.
