Zebra Mussels: A Costly Invasion in Manitoba

Zebra mussels are silently destroying Manitoba's waterways and costing millions to control.

These tiny striped invaders hitchhiked to Canada on cargo ships and now reproduce at terrifying speeds,

sticking to literally everything in sight. They form massive colonies on boats, water pipes,

docks, and even native mussels, suffocating them to death.

While they make water look crystal clear by filtering out plankton, that's actually

catastrophic because fish and aquatic life starve without it. The clear water

lets too much sunlight penetrate deep, triggering toxic algae blooms that poison ecosystems.

Their razor sharp shells pile up on beaches making them dangerous to walk on barefoot.