New Zealand Mud Snails
The New Zealand mud snail is a serious threat to California's rivers, lakes, and streams.
What is a New Zealand mud snail?
A New Zealand mud snail is very small, but given time, it can carpet the bottom of lakes or streams. They have no natural enemies and all it takes is one mud snail to infect a stream.
Why are you concerned?
Mud snails were first detected in the Snake River in 1987 and are now spreading rapidly into California.
New Zealand mud snails:
- Choke out native snails and insects
- Deprive fish of their main sources of food
- Multiply rapidly
- Damage fisheries and native habitats
What can you do?
You can stop them from spreading:
- Clean all fishing gear and boating equipment after each use.
- Use hot water, if possible, and bleach or heavy cleaner.
- Completely dry all gear, in the sun, or freeze overnight.
- Never move live fish or plants from one body of water to another.
Only YOU can STOP New Zealand mud snails!
For more information on New Zealand mud snails and other invasive species, visit:
- www.esg.montana.edu/aim/mollusca/nzms
- protectyourwaters.net
- wildlifefiles.com
- invasivespecies.gov
- anstaskforce.gov
- www.dfg.ca.gov
- www.fws.gov
- www.fedflyfishers.org
or call 1888-DFG-CALTIP to report illegal fishing.
picture from www2.montana.edu/nzms/index.htm
picture from www2.montana.edu/nzms/index.htm
picture from www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/todo/fishing/mudsnail.htm
