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This past winter was one of the warmest and driest in Colorado history. Snowpack was already low due to the lack of precipitation, and these stores only decreased more due to abnormally high temperatures throughout the spring. As we move into the summer, every county in the state is experiencing some level of drought, with extreme levels in the mountains and on the western slope. But what does this mean for parasites? 

Since melted snow fills the rivers and ponds in Boulder and around Colorado, we can expect to see significantly lower water levels. Some snails bury themselves to protect themselves from drought conditions, but rapidly decreasing water levels can leave snails stranded on the shore, leading to massive die-off. Snails serve as the first intermediate host for many trematode parasites, so a decrease in the snail population could result in a decrease in overall parasite prevalence within ponds.