5-17-2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The State Department of Fish and Wildlife is pulling out all the stops to prevent the spread of invasive mussels, bringing on a specially-trained dog named Puddles.
The 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix was rescued from a California shelter and sent to Mussel Dogs, which trains dogs to sniff out quagga and zebra mussels.
These invasive species cost industries, businesses and communities billions of dollars nationwide.
Mature mussels can reproduce at staggering rates and negatively impact the ecosystem and can also clog piping and mechanical systems.
Puddles will work to keep quagga mussels out of the Columbia River basin.