Mussels found in Ontario, Alberta and BC – same boat

As it turns out, an Ontario couple own a boat and were moving to the Lower Mainland. The boat was moored in zebra mussel-infested Rideau Canal for a couple months before being transported to its new home. The owner inspected the boat in Ontario before leaving that province.

The boat was then stopped this past weekend by Alberta inspectors where mussels were found, it was decontaminated. Alberta followed up and called the B.C. Conservation Office in charge of inspection and decontamination to tell them a boat was on its way

The boater was ordered to come to Kelowna for a follow-up inspection.  The boat pulled into the parking lot was taking place and within a few minutes, B.C. inspectors detected several sand grain-sized mussels around the boat’s legs, trim-tabs and props.