When an alarm at the watercraft inspection station gate sounds to signal another boat is crossing the Washington-Idaho border, Fin the dog barks excitedly.

On an early September afternoon, Fin — the only invasive-mussel-detecting dog in Washington — is guided by his handler, Nick Knauss, as they inspect yet another of more than 600 boats crossing the state line via Interstate 90 after Labor Day weekend. They work in tandem: Knauss looks for standing water, aquatic vegetation, dirt or suspicious small shells, while Fin puts his powerful nose to work, seeking the slightest trace of scent.

Meanwhile, another inspector approaches the driver, asking questions about where the boat was last in the water and for how long. For most, this process takes about two minutes and they're back on the ro

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