Kwikwetlem First Nation study tracks endangered snails at Colony Farm in Coquitlam
Researchers have tagged 832 Oregon forestsnails across four plots at Colony Farm Regional Park to find out how many survive and what their habitat needs.
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Researchers working for the Kwikwetlem First Nation have tagged 832 Oregon forestsnails across four study plots at Colony Farm Regional Park in South Coquitlam, tracking the movements of a provincially endangered species that most trail users do not know is there.
Environmental stewards Cassandra Harper and Francesca Fogliata began the field work in 2022, Freshet News reported. The study covers two 400-metre stretches along Colony Farm Trail and Mundy Creek Trail at ƛ̓éxətəm/Colony Farm Regional Park. Results are expected to be published in spring 2027.
What the study is measuring
Harper and Fogliata tagged individual snails to follow their movement patterns through the habitat, Freshet News reported. The snails favour areas with stinging nettles, which supply the calcium they need, and blackberry bushes that provide shade.
"Many people don't know they're endangered... many people don't care about them because they're so small," Fogliata told Freshet News.
The Oregon forestsnail, Allogona townsendiana, is provincially Red Listed as endangered. It lives in southwestern British Columbia at elevations below 500 metres. The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources provided grant funding for the work, and Metro Vancouver is collaborating on parkland management strategies based on what the study finds.
Threats on the trail
The main risks to the snails are pedestrians and cyclists accidentally crushing them on the trail, bird predation on their eggs, and competition from the invasive European Grovesnail, Freshet News reported.
Warning signs have been placed along the trail to alert users to slow down in snail areas. Cyclists are asked to dismount in marked sections.
Researchers are also proposing two longer-term solutions: careful management of the trailside vegetation and the installation of boardwalks that would lift foot traffic above the snails' ground-level habitat.
What comes next
When the study is published in spring 2027, its findings will shape the management plan for the park. Residents who use Colony Farm Trail or Mundy Creek Trail can follow the posted warning signs now and check for updates from Metro Vancouver's parks team. The park is on Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station's bus route.
Questions this story answers
What is the Oregon forestsnail and why is it endangered?
The Oregon forestsnail, known by its scientific name Allogona townsendiana, is a provincially Red Listed endangered species found in southwestern British Columbia at elevations below 500 metres, Freshet News reported. It is at risk because of habitat loss and threats including being trampled by people on trails, egg predation by birds, and competition from the invasive European Grovesnail.
Who is conducting the forestsnail study at Colony Farm Regional Park?
Environmental stewards Cassandra Harper and Francesca Fogliata, working for the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation, began the field research in 2022, Freshet News reported. The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources provided grant funding for the study. Metro Vancouver is also involved in developing parkland management strategies based on the findings.
What have researchers found so far?
Harper and Fogliata tagged 832 snails across four plots along Colony Farm Trail and Mundy Creek Trail at ƛ̓éxətəm/Colony Farm Regional Park, according to Freshet News. They are tracking movement patterns to understand how the snails use the habitat. The study is expected to be published in spring 2027.
Where exactly do the snails live in Coquitlam?
The primary study areas are two 400-metre stretches along Colony Farm Trail and Mundy Creek Trail at ƛ̓éxətəm/Colony Farm Regional Park in South Coquitlam, Freshet News reported. The snails thrive in areas with stinging nettles, which are calcium-rich food, and blackberry bushes that provide shade.
What threats do the snails face at Colony Farm?
According to Freshet News, the main threats are pedestrians and cyclists accidentally trampling the snails, bird predation on their eggs, and invasive European Grovesnails competing with them. Researchers say many trail users do not know the snails are there or that they are endangered.
What can people do to protect the snails at Colony Farm?
Warning signs have been placed along the trail to alert users to travel carefully in the snail areas, Freshet News reported. Cyclists are asked to dismount in marked sections. The researchers are also proposing careful vegetation management and the installation of boardwalks as longer-term protective measures.
What is the Kwikwetlem First Nation's role in this research?
The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation is leading the study through its environmental stewards. The study area is within the Nation's traditional territory. The Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources provided grant funding, and Metro Vancouver is working with the Nation on parkland management strategies based on what the research finds.
When will the forestsnail study results be published?
The study is expected to be published in spring 2027, Freshet News reported. When results come out, they will inform the management plan for Colony Farm Regional Park, including decisions about vegetation and trail infrastructure in the snail habitat areas. Residents who use Colony Farm Trail or Mundy Creek Trail can follow the posted warning signs in the meantime.
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