Malibu Creek warning: NZ Mud Snail

[Zarka]

Bad news for people that want to do Malibu Creek hikes. This mud snail is smaller than a fly (= hard to see on your shoes) but does lots of damage to native species with huge ballooning populations. Trout that eat the snails tend to starve to death because the snail closes its shell and doesn't get digested.

They recommend you not hike in the stream, and let your shoes dry for at least 48 hours, clean them with a wire brush, before hiking in another stream:

http://www.theacorn.com/news/2006/0629/Front_Page/003.html

http://www.mcwmp.net/Events

http://www.healthebay.org/news/2006/06_08_nzmudsnail/default.asp

http://www.flyline.com/_images/nzms_final_report.pdf


Procedures for stopping aquatic hitchhikers:

http://www.protectyourwaters.net/prevention/prevention_generic.php