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New Zealand mudsnails found in Lake Tahoe

By KTVU Staff
Published  September 22, 2023 11:05am PDT
Sierra Tahoe
KTVU FOX 2

New invasive species found in Lake Tahoe

Authorities are warning about the recent discovery of New Zealand snails in Lake Tahoe by divers. They are asking anyone who finds the snails to contact officials in an effort to try eliminate them before the invasive species becomes established.

New Zealand mudsnails were recently found in Lake Tahoe by divers, prompting a warning call from authorities about the invasive species. 

The creatures, which can potentially disrupt the local ecosystem, have previously been found downstream in the Lower Truckee River near Reno, but never in Lake Tahoe itself, officials announced Thursday. 

The small snails were found at the bottom of the lake about a half mile offshore on the south side of the lake, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced. 

The mudsnails are about the size of a grain of rice and "are able to colonize new waters quickly and due to their small size are difficult to detect," the planning agency said.

Robot cleans Lake Tahoe shores

A robot is hard at work cleaning up beaches along the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Scientists will begin conducting dives in other parts of the lake to see where else the unwanted aquatic creatures have spread.

State officials ask anyone who finds the animals to report them to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to prevent them from overpopulating.