Roger Fuller (kneeling), Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, gives directions to volunteers Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Madison McKay (left) and Roger Fuller of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve find and count non-native Japanese mudsnails Thursday during a survey at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
The non-native Japanese mudsnail has been in Padilla Bay since about the 1930s, when they were brought to the area inadvertently with Pacific oysters imported and grown here.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, stretches out a measuring tape Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, examines the shell of a non-native Japanese mudsnail.
Annie England (left) and Madison McKay of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve record their findings Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Madison McKay (right) and Roger Fuller of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve count snails Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Annie England of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve records the findings Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, examines a hermit crab living in the shell of a non-native Japanese mudsnail Thursday during a survey at the reserve near Bay View.
This map shows that, among other locations throughout the region, non-native Japanese mudsnails have been found in areas of Padilla and Fidalgo bays in Skagit County.
Madison McKay (left) and Roger Fuller of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve find and count non-native Japanese mudsnails Thursday during a survey at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, stretches out a measuring tape Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, examines the shell of a non-native Japanese mudsnail.
Annie England (left) and Madison McKay of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve record their findings Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Madison McKay (right) and Roger Fuller of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve count snails Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Annie England of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve records the findings Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
Roger Fuller, Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, examines a hermit crab living in the shell of a non-native Japanese mudsnail Thursday during a survey at the reserve near Bay View.
This map shows that, among other locations throughout the region, non-native Japanese mudsnails have been found in areas of Padilla and Fidalgo bays in Skagit County.
PADILLA BAY — When low tide exposes the dark mud and green eelgrass of Padilla Bay, the shells of a critter that doesn't belong here are a more common sight than those of clams and crabs that do.
It's the Japanese mudsnail, or Batillaria, which ranges in size and color but generally has a narrow, spiral shell about the size of a pen cap.Â
The non-native Japanese mudsnail has been in Padilla Bay since about the 1930s, when they were brought to the area inadvertently with Pacific oysters imported and grown here.
Roger Fuller (kneeling), Natural Resources Stewardship and Restoration coordinator at the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, gives directions to volunteers Thursday during a survey of non-native Japanese mudsnails at Padilla Bay near Bay View.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.