New Zealand mud snail threatens NorCal's trout streams

Sac Bee via SF Chronicle ^ | 11/28/03 | AP - Sacramento

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The tiny New Zealand mud snail is threatening Northern California's trout streams, officials say.

The mollusk, which seldom exceeds 5 millimeters in length, can reach concentrations of 700,000 per square meter and can strip entire river systems of algae.

[NormsRevenge]

sounds like they're nasty little critters

Ping

[general_re]

The tiny New Zealand mud snail is threatening Northern California's trout streams...

Attention, New Zealanders - we have located your Prime Minister. Please come fetch her immediately. Thank you.

[dasboot]

Interesting. Here in New Engaand the envirobots have been searching for a way to control algae in fresh water ponds, estuarial areas and coastal harbors--nitrogenous run-off, the cause, they say. Introduction of non-native algae-eating ctitters has been mentioned: I think snails were mentioned.

The trout egg story is believable; but also believable is that they were planted by some 'authority' in an effort to clear algae.

The reason I'm suspicious is that the egg importer is not named, nor the fines heaped upon the owner mentioned.(Unless it's a state-run hatchery: then they'd have some immunity?)

Perhaps we should import very small French persons to prey of the snails?

[cardinal4]

Hey, Shaggy! I think we found Helen Clark in a Northern California trout stream!

[StatesEnemy]

Survival of the Fittest still applies
News at 11.

[JennysCool]

I will expect the environmental authorities to work as tirelessly eradicating these snails as they would eradicating farmers if they felt they posed a danger to the fish.

[Servant of the 9]

Betcha a thousand pounds of copper sulphate at the headwaters would cure the problem all the way to the sea.

So9

[cyborg]

ping

[NormsRevenge]

New Zealand Mud Snail, Baseline Distribution and Monitoring Study

What the NPS (National Park service) knows about mud snails in Yellowstone.

---

[Carry_Okie]

For all you doubters about invasive exotic species, this is the real deal, and far more harmful than any historic action by man.

So when are we going to start rigorous inspection of incoming materials? < /sarcasm>

[ErnBatavia]

Hey, Shaggy! I think we found Helen Clark in a Northern California trout stream!

A little confusion, I'm afraid....it was a SLUG,not a snail; it was Helen THOMAS, not Helen Clark. I can see how easy it is to miss these tidbits, though....

[henderson field]

If I were in the tourism business up there, I would like very much to know how a destructive snail from New Zealand managed to get into a shipment of trout eggs going from Montana to Idaho.

[Grampa Dave]

They are very nasty little critters.

We had reports of them being in Putah Creek. Our local fly club had a clean up of garbage in the Creek in November. Definite proof was found on some of the garbage. The water watchers of F&G were there to collected the snails from some of the larger garbage.

Most of these critters are brought back in the egg/larvae form in the felt soles in/on the bottoms of Fly fishing boots. In fact any critter from any river can transported in/on the felt soles.

Which is why many of us use boots with Aqua Stealth soles. It is a very hard rubber type of sole which is basically impossible for anything to attach to or imbed in. Fly fishers have known about this for years. Yet some who can afford to fly to New Zealand refuse to pay the few extra bucks for these boots.

Thanks for the ping.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[shaggy eel]

,,, did you see that we have appropriate parasites to deal with this creature? Pretty sad really, it's doing a lot more than many New Zealanders on welfare are doing, but we don't need another welfare parasite.

[general_re]

...we don't need another welfare parasite.

Well, that's just too bad - you elected her, now you have to live with it, so get out here and collect your PM, mister. If you didn't want another welfare parasite, you should have given her a real job, like raking leaves in the park or something.

:^)

[null and void]

This is all your fault!

[shaggy eel]

,,, snail trail bio-terrorism at it's slickest.