Sharon Moen, Minnesota Sea Grant Program

Unlike zebra mussels, most mussels make quiet, interesting, lovely neighbors. Mussels are found on every continent except Antarctica. Freshwater mussels are most diverse in eastern North America, where there are about 300 species (Europe only has 12 species). But they are one of the most endangered groups of animals in North America; about 71 percent of known species and subspecies are listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern. Common native mussels that you might encounter in your lake include:

Giant Floater (Pyganodon grandis– pictured above) Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)

Paper Pondshell (Utterbackia imbecillis– pictured above) Eastern Elliptio (Elliptio complanata)

Reprinted with permission from Cabin Life, Cabin Living Magazine, April/May 2004.

Posted in Fish and Wildlife |