More info on mussel dogs

[WB Staff]

Sniffing out invasive mussels to protect Washington’s waters

At a watercraft inspection station along the highway a few miles from the Idaho border, one very good boy is doing a very good job.

Fin is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mussel-smelling dog. He’s about 4 years old and is a Catahoula leopard dog, blue lacy and Australian kelpie mix.

Like a drug or bomb-smelling dog, his nose is particularly good at sniffing out tiny, invasive mussels.

The invasive zebra and quagga mussels smell like an old gym sock. Nick Knauss, Fin’s handler, said it’s not about detecting the smell. It’s about the speed at which Fin can pick it up.

Dogs are way better at detecting smells than people are, he said.

A man in a reflective yellow vest and a baseball cap plays with a dog. The dog has a blue and orange chew toy in his mouth.
Nick Knauss plays with Fin as a reward for inspecting a boat for invasive mussels. (Credit: Courtney Flatt / NWPB)

These invasive freshwater mussels hitch a ride on boats or trailers. At this station, they’re often coming from the Great Lakes area, Knauss said. Smaller mussels can be about the size of a nail head, he said. Adult mussels are about the size of a quarter.