BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder officials recently discovered New Zealand mudsnails, an invasive species that can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, in South Boulder Creek, according to a city news release.
The snails were discovered in the creek near the East Boulder Community Center. City officials are asking visitors to the creek to stay out of the water in that area to avoid spreading the snails.
The city has temporarily closed access to South Boulder Creek from south of South Boulder Road to Marshall Road to help prevent spread.
New Zealand mudsnails are tiny, about the size of a grain of rice, and they can reproduce rapidly, with a single snail producing a colony of 40 million snails in just one year, according to the city.
They can travel from one area of water to another very easily, attaching on anything from dog paws to boots and waders and fishing equipment.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has more information on the mudsnails and how to prevent their spread. They've been discovered in Colorado waters several times in recent years, including in Elmer's 2 Mile Park and Chatfield Pond last year.