Texas Lake Infested with Invasive Striped Menaces

What has black and white stripes and is found at the bottom of the lake? No, not a zebra who got too friendly with an alligator, but close!

They're actually called zebra mussels and, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, they're back on the front page after a Texas lake has been discovered to be infested with the invasive species.

These shelled savages were discovered in Lake Nasworthy just south of San Angelo.

The population was so severe that experts say there HAD to be a reproduction boom happening.

What Are Zebra Mussels?

You see, zebra mussels are not native to Texas lakes and pose severe threats to the surrounding ecosystems. Their bodies are able to attach to hard surfaces like the underside of boats. They are considered harmful and invasive since they filter out algae that native species found within Texas lakes require to survive.

Zebra mussels also prove challenging to remove, often costing millions when clogging water intakes across the state.

Where did Zebra Mussels Come From?

Zebra mussels are believed to have arrived in America around the 1980s after large ships delivered from Europe introduced these stowaways into the Great Lakes. Over time, they've spread to the southern states, like Texas, where they continue to be a nuisance.

Texas Parks and Wildlife urges all boaters to exercise caution when storing their vehicles in infested water, since zebra mussel larvae are microscopic and nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye.

#StopTheSpread

It's also recommended to properly decontaminate the vessel before transporting it in order to remove any standing water that could harbor these baby zebra mussels.

TPWD provided an instructional video on how to remove water, mud, and other debris from your boat to avoid the spread of invasive species: