MADISON – Floodwaters are dropping across Wisconsin, especially in the northeast, and that means trouble for one of our most important (and overlooked) river residents – native mussels! As rivers recede, thousands of mussels are being left stranded on sandbars and along shorelines. Without help, they can’t make it back to the water and are vulnerable to heat, drying out and predators.

The good news? You can help!

If you see stranded mussels:

Gently pick them up
Toss them back into nearby permanent water (deeper areas of the river).

That’s it – you’ve just helped save a life and protect our rivers.

In places like Clintonville, volunteers have already returned thousands of mussels to the Pigeon River over the past few days. Every little bit makes a difference. If you’re out exploring, fishing, or just enjoying the river, keep an eye out and lend a hand. And if you spot large numbers of stranded mussels, please report it to the Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Program.

Let’s work together to keep Wisconsin’s rivers healthy – one mussel at a time!

Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Published on: Apr 23, 2026 at 10:16 pm