FARGO — Zebra mussels were recently found in moss balls at some pet stores in North Dakota and several other states.
Moss balls, according to mossballpets.com , are a rare form of algae that grows naturally in a spherical shape in just a few remote locations around the world.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging customers who recently purchased moss balls to properly dispose of them by placing in a bag, freezing solid and discarding into the trash. It’s important to not put moss balls down the toilet or drain.
North Dakota pet stores that received the contaminated shipment have been notified and removed the moss balls from shelves.
For additional aquarium decontamination instructions, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/zebra-mussel-disposal.html .
