18. Moss balls and mystery seeds

This week, we dive deep into two news stories that flew under the public’s radar. In the summer of 2020, individuals all over the country started receiving random packages of unsolicited and unidentified seeds. In the spring of 2021, pet stores around the country found that the moss balls on their shelves carried a notorious aquatic hitchhiker. On this episode, we talk to some of the people who devoted months of their lives to dealing with these first-of-their-kind international crises.  

Special thanks to our guests Christopher Deegan, Wesley Daniels, Amy Kretlow and Amy McGovern.  

Report a nonindigenous aquatic species - https://nas.er.usgs.gov/SightingReport.aspx

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database - USGS - https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/default.aspx

Destroy! Don’t dump! - Zebra Mussel Disposal - https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html

Hungry pests - Leave hungry pests behind - https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/hungrypests

Zebra mussels - https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/ais/invasive-species/invasive-species-fact-sheets/mollusks/zebra-mussels/

Quagga mussels - https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/our-work/focus-areas/ais/invasive-species/invasive-species-fact-sheets/mollusks/quagga-mussel/