HIGGINS’ EYE MUSSEL
Did you know that mussels rely on fish to carry their eggs in their gills during a part of their life cycle? Cool, huh?

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Unfortunately, though, run off and dam building have polluted rivers and changed some of the waters they live in. The fish they need to survive have moved to different locations. As a result, some mussels—like the Higgins’ Eye mussel—have become federally endangered species.

Higgins’ eye mussels can live up to 40 years, so biologists hope this will be enough time for water conditions to improve for the Higgins’ Eye.

Interesting facts about mussels

• There are 40 to 50 mussel species in Wisconsin’s freshwaters.
• In the late 1800s the Higgins’ eye mussel was used for buttons.
• They were put on the federal endangered species list in 1976 and the Wisconsin’s endangered list in 1978.
• A mussel uses a “foot” to move.
• Some mussels live to be 150 years old or more.
• Areas in which mussels live in are called beds.
• Mussels can filter several gallons of water per day.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/
http://midwest.fws.gov/