In 2021, the Invading Species Awareness Program started working with the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owner’s Association (CHA) to address the increasing concern of mysterysnails in the Haliburton region. Chinese mysterysnail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) and banded mysterysnail (Viviparus georgianus) are two invasive snails that were introduced to Ontario’s water through intentional and unintentional means and are having a variety of impacts on our environments and our recreational activities.

Through this collaborative approach, including government, NGOs, special interest groups, and the public, multiple virtual training workshops have been delivered to nearly 300 volunteers from the Haliburton region on how to monitor for, identify (including native lookalikes), report, and remove these invasive species. With assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and the acquisition of a Licence to Collect Fish for Scientific Purposes (LCFSP), this engaged group of volunteers now have the tools they need to survey for and remove any invasive mysterysnails they encounter in their waters while simultaneously giving us a better understanding of where the snails are currently found in the Haliburton region of Ontario.

How can you help?

Get involved!

Are you a part of a lake association, cottage association, or even just a group of like-minded individuals on your lake that would like to become licenced in 2024? Contact us! Email robert_mcgowan@ofah.org for more information.

As a member of Ontario’s public, you have a vital role to play in protecting our landscapes from harmful invasive species. Here are some things you can do:

• Learn how to identify invasive Chinese mysterysnails and banded mysterysnails;
• Be sure to CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY your boat each time you are leaving a waterbody;
• If you think you’ve encountered an invasive species, take a photo, mark your location, and call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or report online at www.EDDMapS.org.