Freshwater Mussels?

[KMC]

Hey all,
It might still be too cold in Kentucky but what the hey, it never hurts to ask. I am a student studying American freshwater mussels. I live in Massachusetts where unfortunately there are not that many mussels to find. I am looking for people who come across the little (sometime not so little) buggers when outdoors. I would love anyone who finds the muskrat middens on the side of the rivers/lakes (or how ever they come across the mussels) to box up a bunch of paired fellas big and small and send them my way. I am only looking for dead/spent shells, not live ones. I collect and study and write about all the different species. I'm not concered about big or small, the more different ones the better. Anyone who would be able to help me with my studies by just picking up a bunch of the ones you find while fishing would be a HUGE help in my studies. I would certainly compensate you for your effort and of course pay for shipping too. The only requirements would be that you provide matching paired (not single) valves and that they are not totally broken (they don't have to be absolutely perfect with no chips at all, but the cleaner with their natural "skin" the better). I've been trying to make contacts with people across the country that naturally run into mussels while out fishing or hiking that might be able to just pick up shells they come across without it being a big hassle for them. I can't thank enough anyone who would consider assisting me with this project. You can contact me through this site or directly at [email protected]. Thank You!!!!! And good fishing!!!
-Kevin

[BOURBONBALES]

Hey all,
It might still be too cold in Kentucky but what the hey, it never hurts to ask. I am a student studying American freshwater mussels. I live in Massachusetts where unfortunately there are not that many mussels to find. I am looking for people who come across the little (sometime not so little) buggers when outdoors. I would love anyone who finds the muskrat middens on the side of the rivers/lakes (or how ever they come across the mussels) to box up a bunch of paired fellas big and small and send them my way. I am only looking for dead/spent shells, not live ones. I collect and study and write about all the different species. I'm not concered about big or small, the more different ones the better. Anyone who would be able to help me with my studies by just picking up a bunch of the ones you find while fishing would be a HUGE help in my studies. I would certainly compensate you for your effort and of course pay for shipping too. The only requirements would be that you provide matching paired (not single) valves and that they are not totally broken (they don't have to be absolutely perfect with no chips at all, but the cleaner with their natural "skin" the better). I've been trying to make contacts with people across the country that naturally run into mussels while out fishing or hiking that might be able to just pick up shells they come across without it being a big hassle for them. I can't thank enough anyone who would consider assisting me with this project. You can contact me through this site or directly at [email protected]. Thank You!!!!! And good fishing!!!
-Kevin

KMC, you have a pm.

[sam8772]

Hey, I think your research is great I would be glad to help you out. Did you know that Kentucky is home to many endangered fresh water mussels. Also our state has one of the biggest freshwater mussel population. Ohh yea Kentucky's got it all when it comes to mussels. I know you are looking for whole pieces that are not broken. Would you like some from lakes creeks or the river? Do you have any sizes that are better than others? Just send me a message and we can set something up. I am going to the river tonight, don;t see why I can't pick you up some then.

[KMC]

Hello Sam,
thanks so much for the reply and the offer to help! I have absolutely no requirement for size or location. In fact the more different species big or small from as many different places the better. If you can find pairs of any species, I will be delighted. I will send you a pm too.
-Thanks again, Kevin

[JoeB]

Kevin, You've come to the right place. The Cumberland river basin is the ancestral home to nearly every specie of mussel in North America. Give me a little time, and I can hook you up with several species from 1/2 in. asian clams to 10 in washboards. You should really get to know a biologist at the KDFWR named Monte ?????? (help someone) He heads up a mussel reintroduction project on the banks of the Elkhorn in Frankfort where he is trying breed and reintroduce several endangered mussels to KY waterways where they have all but disappeared. Some have disappeared because of siltation and pollution, others because their host fish has vanished. Anyway, he knows more about mussels than anyone I've ever met before. If nobody on here can come up with his last name, you can simply call KDFWR and ask for the mussel guy, and they'll know who you are looking for. My contact info is listed in my profile on this site. Keep in tough, and I'll try to help out.

[KMC]

Hello Joe,
I definitely have come to the right place and very happy for it! Thanks so much for the information and the offer to help. I'm hitting the hay right now, but I'll definitely send you a pm tomorrow.
-Thanks again, Kevin

[jwp]

You're thinking of Monte McGregor - a very interesting fellow who is passionate about mussels. Here's a video featuring Monte taling about Kentucky's mussel population and his work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaKjXGbgazo

[KMC]

Loved the video!

[colonelmeyer]

Butter, lemon, and garlic, mmmmmm.

[KMC]

Butter, lemon, and garlic, mmmmmm.

Really?! I was told that they are a bit tough and taste like dirt. Kinda makes sense since they live in dirt. However, I only have second hand info on that one. I know they were a staple for Native Americans.

[KMC]

I figured people my enjoy a quick tutorial on the only 2 bivalves that I don't study and that might be confused with the native freshwater mussels I do study. The first is the Asian clam (link below). It rarely grows larger than 1 inch (rarely up to 1.5 inches) and does not have the tell-tale pearly inside like our many native mussels. The second I do not study is the zebra mussel. This clam rarely reaches a inch in size and hasn't spread across America as far and wide as the previous invasive species from Asia (thank god!). Where its found, its a huge nuisance. Pretty much, if you find a mussel that is larger than a inch and pearly inside, its definitely a native mussel.

Here is examples of the Asian Clam:
http://www.europe-aliens.org/images/..._Corbicula.jpg

http://www.malacsoc.org.uk/The_Malac...a_fluminea.jpg


Here is zebra mussels:

http://www.fishingireland.net/enviro...bramussels.jpg

Here is a really nice pile of our nativemussels:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/no...protect_20.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/guyot/im...dt_mussels.jpg

[kygorski]

did you ever hear of this? There is agrave yard near nolin lake, where the folks used to cover the grave sites with mussel shells, My friend didn't know the origin, any answers?