OAKDALE, CA - Debi DeShon had been training dogs to sniff out contraband for the last 15 years, but a decline in the economy and a rise of an eco-threatening animal made her swap narcotics for nature.
At her new business she's using some of the same techniques she used to "Mussel Dogs" is DeShon's new detective venture, and She's training dogs to find invasive species of mussels - the quagga and zebra mussels.
According to DeShon and park officials at the Woodward Reservoir in Oakdale, the Quagga and Zebra mussels can multiply out of control and dramatically change the ecosystem. They are often transported from lake to lake by boaters. The mussels are only about the size of a finger nail, and their larvae can be microscopic, making them tough to find. Quagga and Zebra mussels can also live for up to 30 days out of the water. The mussels have been found in lakes in surrounding states and in southern California.
"What our dogs do is sniff a boat before entering into the waterway to make sure the boat doesn't have these mussels on them," said DeShon, who demonstrated her brown labrador Popeye's ability at the Woodward Reservoir. DeShon is certified by California Fish & Game to handle a specimen of the mussels for training purposes. She hid a few inside the motor of a boat and then brought out Popeye to find the scent. Popeye picked it up in under a minute.
"This is really a more efficient way of doing inspections," said DeShon. "A human might take 15 to 20 minutes thoroughly inspecting the boat, but a dog takes only a minute."
Once the mussels or larvae are detected, the boat needs to be contaminated with a bleach and hot water solution before it can enter the water. Mandatory boat inspections take place in nearby states, including at Lake Tahoe. Woodward Reservoir has a contract with DeShon and Mussel Dogs for boat inspections this summer.
News10/KXTV