There are 4 federally endangered mussels on the Mississippi. They are the Winged Mapleleaf, Higgin's Eye Pearlymussel, Fat Pocketbook, and Scaleshell.
Federally endangered means they are in real danger of going extinct. A lesser designation would be "threatened".
Why should we care? Because mussels filter millions of gallons of water each day. They keep our water clean.
What can we do to help? For starters, we can learn about an exotic species that has invaded our waterways, and that is the Zebra mussel. They grow thick and fast, and can carpet the bottom of rivers, choking out the native mussels. Zebra mussels also attach themselves to the bottom of boats, which is one way they are spread - being transported from lake to lake or river to river. If you are a boat owner, you can inspect your craft and clean it off every time you come off the water.
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