A single sighting of the deadly zebra mussel in Lewis and Clark Lake has sparked a huge scare in South Dakota and Nebraska.

Authorities in both states are planning to take action to prevent a zebra mussel invasion of the lake. South Dakota officials launched a follow-up search after they spotted a single adult zebra mussel, but fortunately didn't find any other mussels.

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They suggest the discovery only involves one zebra mussel that attached itself to a boat. Game, fish and parks officials of both states conduct annual inspections to prevent the entry into the lake of the invasive and toxic mussels.

The invasive zebra mussels are small black and white mussels originally from Eastern Europe. They consume large amounts of plankton, the primary food of freshwater fish and are responsible for the deaths of massive numbers of fish that starve to death because they've got no plankton to feed on.

Zebra mussels are also the source of avian botulism that's poisonous to birds and other animals when consumed. Avian botulism has caused the deaths of several thousand birds and was first discovered in 1988 in the Great Lakes.

Zebra mussels normally attach themselves to boat motors, hulls and other marine equipment. If they reach other areas, they spread and attach themselves to structures and pipes.

They corrode the metals in the process and also block water pathways such as large pipes around power and water treatment plants.

TagsZebra mussels, Mussels, Invasive mussles, South Dakota, great lakes, Lewis Lake, Clark Lake