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State Officials Seize Cold Snap, Freeze Out Invasive Snails In Capitol Lake
Aquatic invasive species, the New Zealand mud snail, are found all over the western states and spreading fast. They’re so small they can easily hitch a ride on just about anything, from a muddy boot or kayak paddle to the shovels and equipment used by landscape restoration crews.
The creatures are about the size of a grain of rice. Though tiny, they outcompete native insects that serve as food for endangered fish and other aquatic life. And because they reproduce asexually, it takes just one snail to introduce the species to a new area.
Experts are looking for a non-toxic method to exterminate the snails. And Olympia’s man-made lake provides a closed system where they can test the technique of freezing them out. When the temperature drops to below freezing, they drain the lake so the lake bed ices over.
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