Whitefish Lake got a worrying “maybe,” not a confirmed mussel infestation: on October 21, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks found one nonviable invasive mussel larva. Follow-up testing found no mussel DNA, and additional water samples and a dive survey have found no live mussels so far. Encouraging news—but not quite a reason to put away the magnifying glass.
FWP will keep sampling and monitoring with local partners because negative tests don’t completely rule out mussels hiding in the lake. Boaters can help keep the situation from getting any more interesting: clean, drain, and dry watercraft between lakes, and stop at required inspection stations. Read the original FWP article HERE for details.
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