The World · Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Detection dogs guard Canada's lakes against invasive mussels

At boat inspection stations in the Canadian province of Alberta, specially trained dogs named Hilo, Jane and Winnie sniff out larvae of invasive zebra and golden mussels too small for human inspectors to spot easily. The program has been running for over a decade, with the dogs rewarded with favorite toys after each find. The effort helps avert infestations that could otherwise cost provinces up to 75 million dollars a year.