The easiest way to prevent mudsnails from spreading is to avoid water contact when possible. However, if your activities include water contact, you can follow these simple steps to reduce the chances of spreading this invader to another stream:

The Basics:

  • 1: Don't be a carrier!
  • Avoid transferring anything wet (especially, waders, boots, and gear) from stream to stream.
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  • 2: Keep it DRY!
  • After every trip to a stream or lake, remove all mud and debris, visually inspect, and completely dry your belongings. If you can, put your wet things in the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 2 hours. Air drying your belongings at temperatures of at least 85°F for 24 -48 hours will also kill mudsnails.

These are the easiest, and most basic things you can do to prevent the spread of New Zealand Mudsnails and prevent the introduction of other invasive species into our local waterways.

Visit more often?

If you frequently visit lakes and streams, (e.g., you are a stream researcher, monitoring crew, watershed survey group, and others who access streams and lakes regularly), you should refer to "How to Prevent the Spread of New Zealand Mudsnails through Field Gear" produced by Oregon Sea Grant.

This guide provide more detailed information on currently accepted methods for treating gear and preventing the spread of mudsnails.

It only takes one snail to infest a waterbody! Please help protect our creeks and streams!

About This Site

This site was produced by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission with the generous help and support of its partners.

  • California Department of Fish and Game
  • California State Parks
  • National Parks Service
  • Heal the Bay
  • Las Virgenes Municipal Water District
  • Mountains Restoration Trust
  • Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
  • Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains
  • University of California Cooperative Extension

Funding for this site was provided wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency using Clean Water Act Section grant funds under Assistance Agreements to the State Water Resources Control Board and to the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Authority, and by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the US EPA, the State Water Resources Control Board, or any other funding organization, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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