Boat Blog

Red-Eared Invaders Threaten Native Turtles and Human Health!

Did you have a pet Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) when you were growing up? The distinctive red stripe on the side of the head is attractive and makes it easy to identify them. The red-eared slider turtle is native in much of the...

Dhi (dee) is an 18-year old, pet red-eared slider. She lives with her human family in northern California. Photo by Peter Townsend.

Dhi (dee) is an 18-year old, pet red-eared slider. She lives with her human family in northern California. Photo by Peter Townsend.

What the Heck is Rock Snot?

This icky sounding aquatic invader threatens tourism, fisheries and even hydropower facilities that depend on our streams and rivers. Why? Rock snot, aka didymo (Didymosphaenia geminata), is a one-celled alga or diatom. Each tiny didymo grows a...

Didymo mats smother streambed and rocks. Photo provided by Mark Hoddle, Center for Invasive Species Research, UC Riverside. Photographer unknown.

Didymo mats smother streambed and rocks. Photo provided by Mark Hoddle, Center for Invasive Species Research, UC Riverside. Photographer unknown.

Rat on Aquatic Invaders!

Who ya gonna call? If you spot a suspected aquatic invader, where you report it depends on the critter or weed. Remember to take photos with a camera or, even better, geo-tag them with a smartphone. Take a snapshot that shows just where you saw the...

Los Angeles County Public Works Department employees learn to recognize and report aquatic invasive species. Photo by Jessica Chen.

Los Angeles County Public Works Department employees learn to recognize and report aquatic invasive species. Photo by Jessica Chen.

Decon Aquatic Invaders!

How can boaters, anglers, and anyone else who works or plays in wet places help stop aquatic invasive species from conquering new territory? Decon (decontamination) is critical. Invaders can hide in mud on the tread of your boots, cling to the hem of...

Scrub boots with a stiff-bristled brush. Photo by Michelle Lande.

Scrub boots with a stiff-bristled brush. Photo by Michelle Lande.

Plague of Invasive Frogs!

Look out, Kermit! There’s a plague of invasive frogs and they’ve got big appetites. American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeiana) arrived in California at least 100 years ago and are now widespread. Bullfrogs eat just about anything, such as...

Bullfrog tadpoles are REALLY BIG! Photo by Michelle Lande

Bullfrog tadpoles are REALLY BIG! Photo by Michelle Lande

Read more