Alberta Adds Two Detection Dogs to Keep Invasive Mussels Out of Provincial Waters

Alberta is expanding one of its most recognizable lines of defence against invasive mussels, adding two new specially trained detection dogs as officials warn the threat to the province's lakes, rivers and irrigation systems continues to grow.

The province announced July 29 that Jane and Winnie, both black Labrador retrievers, have joined veteran conservation dog Hilo as part of Alberta's Aquatic Invasive Species Program. Working alongside watercraft inspectors, the dogs are trained to detect the scent of invasive freshwater mussels hidden in boats, trailers and equipment before they can enter Alberta waterways.

The expansion comes as Alberta continues to increase its prevention efforts. The province is operating a record 12 watercraft inspection stations this year and has already intercepted six boats carrying invasive mussels attempting to enter Alberta in 2026.

"Protecting Alberta's waters starts with preventing the spread of invasive mussels," Press Secretary Kyle Warner said in a written statement. "These destructive species can threaten aquatic ecosystems, damage infrastructure and create major economic impacts. A single watercraft carrying invasive mussels can put an entire waterbody at risk, making early detection and prevention essential to protecting Alberta's environment and economy."

Unlike inspectors, the dogs can detect mussels concealed in difficult-to-access parts of a watercraft, including areas below the waterline and inside compartments where the tiny organisms may be difficult to spot during a visual inspection.

When a dog detects the scent of mussels, it signals its handler by sitting beside the location. The dogs never enter the boats and are rewarded with play using a favourite toy after a successful detection.

The three dogs recently completed specialized training in the United States, where they learned to identify zebra, quagga and golden mussels, the three invasive freshwater mussel species currently found in North America.

The province says keeping those species out remains one of its highest environmental priorities.

Once established, invasive mussels reproduce rapidly, attaching themselves to docks, water intake pipes, irrigation infrastructure and boats while disrupting native aquatic ecosystems. Alberta estimates an established infestation could cost millions of dollars in environmental and infrastructure damage.

The province remains free of invasive mussels, but officials say preventing their arrival requires constant vigilance.

Last year, inspectors examined nearly 22,000 boats, roughly 8,500 more than the previous year, and intercepted 13 watercraft contaminated with invasive mussels. All had entered Alberta from either eastern Canada or the United States.

From May 1 through Sept. 30, anyone entering Alberta from the province's eastern or southern borders with either motorized or non-motorized watercraft is legally required to stop for an inspection whenever an inspection station is open. Drivers who bypass an open inspection station face a $4,200 fine, while transporting a boat without removing its drain plug can result in a $600 penalty.

The expanded K-9 program is one part of a broader provincial strategy led by Alberta's Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, which brings together representatives from government, academia, conservation organizations and the irrigation sector to strengthen prevention, monitoring and rapid response efforts.

While invasive mussels remain the province's highest-profile aquatic threat, Alberta is monitoring 62 aquatic invasive species in total.

Closer to home, one of the biggest concerns in the Bow Valley is whirling disease, a microscopic parasite that infects trout, whitefish and other salmonid species. The disease has spread steadily across parts of Alberta over the past decade and has now been detected in the Bow River watershed, including Lake Louise.

Whirling disease does not affect people, but it can severely deform young fish and kill up to 90%of infected juveniles. It spreads through infected fish, mud, water and contaminated recreational equipment, making prevention critical because there is no known treatment.

Earlier this year, Parks Canada introduced stricter boating and equipment restrictions across several mountain national parks following the continued spread of whirling disease, emphasizing that cleaning, draining and drying boats and gear remains one of the most effective ways to prevent aquatic invasive species from moving between waterbodies.

Provincial officials say that message applies just as strongly to invasive mussels.

"The best way to stop invasive mussels is to prevent them from arriving in the first place," Warner said. "These conservation dogs are another incredible tool helping Alberta protect our lakes, rivers and water infrastructure before irreversible damage occurs."