Even though golden mussels were only detected in California in October 2024, they pose a significant and immediate threat to the state’s waterways. … Unfortunately, many of the common inspection programs and methods—like boat inspections or eDNA—can be costly, labor intensive, and slow. While these methods offer comprehensive results, the rapid spread of golden mussels requires tools that deliver immediate answers as boaters enter waterways. Luckily, a new solution is on the rise: dogs that can smell invasive species. From time on the treadmill to weekly weigh-ins, golden mussel-sniffing dogs are treated like star athletes at Mussel Dogs, an Oakdale-based canine training and environmental consulting business.