Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 57

CURRENTS

After confirming the presence of the aquatic invasive
species (AIS) known as New Zealand Mudsnail
(Potamopyrgus antipodarium) in Spring Creek, Centre
County, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
(PFBC) is reminding anglers and boaters that cleaning
their gear is the easiest, most effective means of preventing
its spread to other waters.
During the 2013 sampling season, biologists with the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
collected the samples in Spring Creek between the Benner
Spring State Fish Hatchery and the State Route 550 Bridge
near Bellefonte. Snail experts from South Carolina's College
of Charleston and the Smithsonian Institution's National
Museum recently confirmed the findings.
New Zealand Mudsnails are small, measuring less
than ¼ inch, with a long, narrow, coiled shell with deep
grooves. Like other AIS, they disrupt ecosystems by
rapidly multiplying and competing with native species for
space and food.
"Based on studies conducted in western United States
streams, if the population grows quickly, they could become
the dominant organisms in the benthic (bottom dwelling)
community, upon which many others species depend for
food," said Bob Morgan, PFBC's ecologist who studies
AIS. "Because this is the first known occurrence of the
New Zealand Mudsnail on the Atlantic slope of the eastern
United States, the effects of the snail on higher organisms,
such as fish, are not certain at this time."
The invasive species has spread to Europe, Asia, Australia
and North America. They were discovered in the Snake
River in Idaho and Wyoming in 1987; in Lake Ontario
and the St. Lawrence River in 1991; and in Lake Erie about
4 miles north of Presque Isle Bay in 2007. Additional
populations
were found in
a small stream
near the Niagara
River in New
York in 2008
and in another
Lake Ontario
tributary
in 2011.
"Spring Creek
is one of the
most heavily
fished streams
in the state,
with anglers
travelling to it
PFBC distributed posters telling how to help
from all over
prevent the spread of the invasive
the world,"
New Zealand Mudsnail.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com

photo-PFBC archives

Commission Issues Alert to Contain
Invasive Species in Centre County

said Morgan.
"Given the
presence of the
mudsnail in
other areas of
the country, it's
not surprising
they have been
found here. As
with many AIS,
they are nearly
impossible to
eradicate once
established.
This is even
more difficult
with the
mudsnail,
New Zealand Mudsnails
because it
usually takes only one small snail to be able to produce
offspring. But, we must do our best to slow its spread to
other waters."
Anglers and boaters are urged to "Clean Your Gear!"
before leaving a waterway and entering another one.
New Zealand Mudsnails require some specialized
disinfection measures. Gear should be visually inspected
and any clinging matter should be removed and disposed
of in the trash. To kill mudsnails, three methods are
effective. Gear can be frozen for a minimum of six
hours, or it can be soaked in hot water-120-degrees F to
140-degrees F-for five minutes. This last method is not
recommended for Gortex.
Also, a 2005 study by the California Department of Fish
and Game showed that mudsnails can be killed by soaking
gear for five minutes in a one-to-one solution of Formula
409® Cleaner Degreaser Disinfectant and water. After
soaking gear for five minutes, thoroughly rinse it with plain
water. Simply spraying gear with the disinfectant or the
mixture does not work. Also, general cleaners have not been
shown to be effective against the mudsnail.
If you suspect that you have found New Zealand Mudsnail
(or any other AIS) in another waterway, please report your
information at www.fishandboat.com/ais-reporting.htm.
When reporting an AIS sighting, it is very important to
incorporate as much information as possible including
close-up photos of the organism, the exact location
(GPS coordinates work best), a description of what you
found and your contact information.
For more information about the New Zealand Mudsnail,
visit www.paseagrant.org/fact_sheet_group/invasive-species,
and scroll down to "Fact Sheets-Invertebrates" and the New
Zealand Mudsnail photo link.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014

57
http://www.fishandboat.com/ais-reporting.htm http://www.paseagrant.org/fact_sheet_group/invasive-species http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014

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