Mud Snails Dominant in Yellowstone Park

November 19, 2004 By: Marshall Cutchin

New Zealand mud snails have apparently established themselves as permanent residents of Yellowstone Park. In some locations, like Polecat Creek, they comprise 93 percent of the invertebrate biomass. Scientists think that the Park’s geothermally heated rivers are most likely to attract the snails, which first appeared in this country in Idaho’s lower Snake River in 80s. Scott McMillion in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. (Thanks to reader John DeVault for sending this link.)