Chittenango ovate amber snails (COAS), a captive-bred endangered landsnail, were released at Chittenango Falls State Park Sept. 25. The individuals released were raised in a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) laboratory. COAS is known only from one location at the Central New York state park.
"The release of these special little snails is timed to coincide with National Public Lands Day, a day that celebrates the importance of environmental stewardship, and the connection between people and green spaces," said Dr. Rebecca J. Rundell," COAS project lead. "This is an incredibly rewarding project for many reasons. The opportunity to support such a tiny, yet important part of our ecosystem, is meaningful. Our success is rooted in solid partnerships with visionary organizations committed to the well-being the environment. And this project is driven by the talent, energy, and passion of ESF students and alumni, who are tireless."
Marking the snails prior to their release in the wild helps the team track these snails in the future and better understand whether the release was successful. At Chittenango Fall State Park, staff are also involved with restoring the habitat, and making sure visitors do not accidentally stomp on the tiny snails. Another ESF alumnus now working with Parks, Delaney Kalsman, has been focused on this work all summer, and has gotten to know COAS, which is named for its beautiful egg-shaped, amber-colored snail shell.
Chittenango Ovate Amber Snails Released at Chittenango Falls State Park
"The release of these special little snails is timed to coincide with National Public Lands Day, a day that celebrates the importance of environmental stewardship, and the connection between people and green spaces," said Dr. Rebecca J. Rundell," COAS project lead. "This is an incredibly rewarding project for many reasons. The opportunity to support such a tiny, yet important part of our ecosystem, is meaningful. Our success is rooted in solid partnerships with visionary organizations committed to the well-being the environment. And this project is driven by the talent, energy, and passion of ESF students and alumni, who are tireless."
Marking the snails prior to their release in the wild helps the team track these snails in the future and better understand whether the release was successful. At Chittenango Fall State Park, staff are also involved with restoring the habitat, and making sure visitors do not accidentally stomp on the tiny snails. Another ESF alumnus now working with Parks, Delaney Kalsman, has been focused on this work all summer, and has gotten to know COAS, which is named for its beautiful egg-shaped, amber-colored snail shell.
Chittenango Ovate Amber Snails Released at Chittenango Falls State Park
