mussels

Fin is the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s mussel-smelling dog. Like a drug or bomb-smelling dog, his nose is particularly good at sniffing out invasive mussels.

The shellfish can encrust dam infrastructure and clog water pipes, and threaten to cause millions of dollars worth of problems.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning is the most severe type of shellfish poisoning. It's tied to algal blooms that state officials say are getting worse along with climate change.

Checking every inch of a streambed for freshwater mussels requires a snorkel and a wetsuit. It’s a messy job, but it’s vitally important as these keystone species are declining throughout the West.

"Hey Nance," I asked Ms. Leson. "Mussels or clams – which wunna dese?" "Of dose?" she Philly'd. "I like 'em both, but it would have to be mussels.…