Tiny NZ Mudsnails Infest Tonto Creek in Arizona, Officials Close Area for Biosecurity Protocols

Following confirmation of the infestation of tiny NZ mudsnails on Wednesday, the Tonto Creek Hatchery in Arizona has been shut down while authorities implement biosecurity protocols.

Closed for Biosecurity Protocols

Authorities believed that the mudsnails had possibly infested the hatchery since Tonto Creek runs about 2.5 miles downstream from it.

Wildlife officials are now inspecting Tonto Creek to determine the severity of the infestation.

To facilitate the search, the Tonto Creek Hatchery was closed to the general public on Thursday.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department news release stated that this will give authorities time to improve biosecurity procedures. During this period, they will also assess potential infrastructure purchases that might enhance native species protection.

Risks for Tonto Creek Hatchery

The mudsnail shutdown has occurred twice so far this year. After authorities discovered invasive snails in the neighboring creek in April, the public was momentarily denied access to the Canyon Creek Hatchery.

Since they are not indigenous to Arizona, New Zealand mudsnails can outcompete them for food. The populations of local mollusks and sportfish may suffer as a result.

This species' asexual reproduction makes it very difficult to eradicate.

One mudsnail is all it takes to swiftly engulf a watercourse.

Since 2002, when they first appeared in the Colorado River below Lake Powell, they have been a disruption for AZGFD. The agency said that the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, and Lake Mohave were all infested with snails.

Mudsnails can unintentionally convert outdoor enthusiasts into snail-spreaders. Anglers could return from a kayaking or fishing trip with a little mudsnail stuck to their boat. If the same boat is taken to a different body of water, the snail can begin to reproduce and take over a different stream.

Given that these mudsnails range in size from four to six millimeters, it is very likely to miss them, which will contribute to the infestation, KTAR News reported.

Invasive NZ Mudsnails

The aquatic snails known as "New Zealand mud snails" may be found in streams, rivers, and lakes.

New Zealand mud snails have a strong reproductive potential and may consume up to half of the food that is readily accessible to native mollusks and insects, which allows them to swiftly outcompete other species and constitute a serious danger to the balance of ecosystems.

Therefore, by upsetting the food chain, limiting the ability of native aquatic species to reproduce, and lowering their population numbers, these invasive snails might pose a danger to biodiversity.

Also Read: 8,000 Critically Endangered Hawaiian Snails Relocated From Kailua to Pearl City in Hawaii 

Because of their innate resilience, New Zealand mud snails have been able to persist in new, unfamiliar environments despite placing strain on the health of ecological systems in their non-native locations.

These little mollusk species are indigenous to New Zealand and the nearby islands, as their name indicates.

Unfamiliar New Zealand mud snails are sly hitchhikers that have spread around the world thanks to tainted ballast water and assistance from terrestrial fauna. This is because they can flourish in unfamiliar environments.

Since their 1987 introduction to North America, they have spread to places including Europe, Australia, and Asia, which includes the five Great Lakes, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, according to data from Invasive Species Center.

Related Article: 2 Invasive Mudsnails from New Zealand Found in Montana Creek