According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the invasive quagga mussel is primed to make a comeback despite years of slowed growth.
The reason?
Quaggas can be spread by watercraft, and recent boat sales data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association shows that sales are robust. More vessels are filling state lakes, rivers, reservoirs and waterways, breathing new life into these prolific invaders: a mature female quagga mussel can produce up to 1 million eggs in a single year.
It might not sound like a big deal, but these invasive species can cause billions of dollars in damage while disturbing the natural aquatic life food chain.