Most Hostile Takeover by a Highly Invasive Underwater Species

Zebra Mussels

Like the rise of fascism, it’s often tough to spot a zebra mussel colony before it’s too late. The stripe-shelled, filter-feeding organisms have spent the better part of this past decade infiltrating Texas’ lakes, and in June made landfall in Lake Travis. Call in the National Guard! Zebra mussels are known for colonizing quickly and anywhere that fits their liking, which is why Texas Parks & Wildlife spent much of the summer shouting at boaters to wash off their hulls before they transported their boats from lake to lake. Guess what: Someone didn’t, and now we’ve got zebra mussels in Lake Austin. Tomorrow it’s Town Lake, and by November, Barton Springs. Before you know it, they’ll have taken over City Hall.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Rd., 512/389-4800
www.tpwd.state.tx.us