Carter Lake is Being Invaded by the New Zealand Mudsnail – What is it?

Carter Lake is one of the most-popular areas for recreation in Northern Colorado, about 14 miles southwest of Loveland. For the first time, the 1,100-acre reservoir is dealing with the New Zealand Mudsnail.

What is the New Zealand Mudsnail Invading Carter Lake?

I'd never heard of the New Zealand Mudsnail until the Colorado Sun reported that Colorado Parks and Wildlife had announced that it had invaded Carter Lake. These tiny snail (about the size of a grain of rice) are voracious eaters, eating up and depleting the habitat within freshwater locations such as Carter Lake; aquatic insect larvae, native snails and fish are all affected.

Even when eaten by a fish, the Mudsnail just passes through its digestive system and survives, but the fish becomes malnourished. Carter Lake primarily has walleye, largemouth bass, and trout, that folks enjoy fishing for.

READ MORE: Who is Carter Lake Reservoir Named After?

The Colorado Sun reports that the dastardly female Mudsnail can clone itself, like something out of a James Cameron movie. Add in how, as they multiply and multiply, they congest/clog the inlets and outlets at Carter Lake, adding to the destruction.

What Can They Do About the Mudsnail Invasion at Carter Lake?

There doesn't seem to be a clear way to eradicate the Mudsnail; the goal is to keep the invasion from spreading to other waters. Birds that eat the snails, then fly away, spread the snail, because they don't get digested. What Colorado Parks and Wildlife can (try to) manage, is inspecting boats/watercraft and decontaminate them, if necessary.

But it's not just the watercraft, as Mudsnails easily attach to boots, waders, clothing, shoelaces, watercraft, aquatic vegetation, and gear, and can easily go unnoticed due to their very small size. We all need to be diligent after having some fun.

You can learn more about the New Zealand Mudsnail below: