Hi folks, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a nasty, tiny invasive snail from New Zealand has shown up in southern California. This very tiny (a few millimeters long) snail can clone itself, and one snail can produce a population of millions that carpet the bottom of a stream, crowding out native invertebrates and thus reducing food resources for native fish. It had been found in the Malibu Creek watershed, in Piru Creek, and very recently in the upper San Gabriel.

The snails can attach to clothing, boots, other gear, even skin, and hitchhike to new areas. The can live up to a month out of water in moist conditions.

It may have been brought here by fishermen, hikers, or researchers.

What can you do? If possible, stay out of infected creeks!

Once you have been through any creek, examine your clothes and boots and try to remove snails. (This is very difficult, their small size makes them hard to see, and they can get into boot soles and hide under laces).

To avoid carrying them from an infected watershed to a clean one, only hike in one watershed a day!

Let clothes and boots dry THOROUGHLY, in a clothes dryer or in the sun for at least 48 hours, before wearing them in a new watershed.

For more information, go to www.healthebay.org/news/200...fault.asp