Abstract:
A device for trapping and collecting snails in an aquatic environment. The device includes a basin with a lid having a top opening through which snails may enter, a floating screen to keep snails retained, and a standpipe to anchor the device to the bottom of a water body and to serve as a location for the deposit of snail eggs.

Description:
PRIORITY OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of invention under 35 USC 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/195,315 filed Oct. 6, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to the field of traps for aquatic snails. More specifically, the present invention comprises a system and method for safely and efficiently baiting, trapping, and removing unwanted and invasive aquatic snails. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The freshwater snails of the Family Ampullariidae are known as “apple snails” and are a non-native, invasive species of freshwater snail. These snails are voracious herbivores that particularly prefer young, succulent plants, such as rice seedlings, but can also uproot and consume mature aquatic plants. Left unchecked, these snails can consume all the vegetation in a water body. Further, these snails have become major pests in 18 countries and have made the list of the top 100 Globally Invasive Alien Species by the ISSG. These snails are also intermediate hosts of the rat lungworm ( angiostrongylus cantonensis ) which can cause eosinophilic meningitis in humans. 
         [0006]    Two South American apple snails, the Island Apple Snail ( Pomacea Insularum ) and the Channeled Apple Snail ( Pojmacea Canaliculata ) are spreading rapidly from Texas to South Carolina and represent a major risk to aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, and human health in the southern coastal plain of the United States. Currently, there are no effective, environmentally-sound control methods. 
         [0007]    Further, because of the nature of invasive species, early detection and early remedial actions are the best forms of control. Once an invasive species becomes established, it is much more difficult to control or eradicate. 
         [0008]    Apple snails have excellent chemoreception and thus can be lured using food items that they prefer. These snails are able to rapidly control buoyancy, and readily dig into the substrate of a water body to obtain food. Apple snails are gregarious and readily congregate under objects providing shade. Finally, apple snails readily lay their eggs above the water line on available vertical surfaces. 
         [0009]    Generally, the prior art is restricted to traps and bait for terrestrial snails. Current control technologies for aquatic snails typically include application of copper containing compounds (e.g., copper sulfate) to a water body—a very blunt instrument that is toxic to many species besides aquatic snails, and hand picking, an expensive, time consuming, and ineffective process. Thus, there is a need for a simple, efficient, low-cost bait and trap system that can be used to detect and control populations of invasive aquatic snails. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a system and method for the efficient, safe, and convenient detection, trapping, and collecting of aquatic snails for removal from a water body. It further includes a novel bait that attracts aquatic snails, is long lasting in an aquatic environment, and is environmentally friendly. The present invention further acts as a sentinel to provide early warning of an aquatic snail infestation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side isometric view of the snail trap of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top isometric view of the snail trap of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a vertical section of the snail trap of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the snail trap of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the snail trap of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a vertical section of the snail trap of the present invention 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a vertical section of the snail trap of the present invention deployed in a water body. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   100 
                   trap 
                 
                 
                   101 
                   standpipe 
                 
                 
                   102 
                   cap 
                 
                 
                   103 
                   basin 
                 
                 
                   104 
                   lid 
                 
                 
                   105 
                   screen 
                 
                 
                   300 
                   vertical surface 
                 
                 
                   301 
                   edge 
                 
                 
                   302 
                   vertical wall 
                 
                 
                   304 
                   base 
                 
                 
                   305 
                   penetration 
                 
                 
                   306 
                   shoulder 
                 
                 
                   307 
                   lip 
                 
                 
                   501 
                   cable tie 
                 
                 
                   601 
                   copper strip 
                 
                 
                   701 
                   bait 
                 
                 
                   702 
                   water surface 
                 
                 
                   703 
                   bottom 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the trap of the present invention. Trap  100  is comprised of a basin  103 , a lid  104 , a standpipe  101  with a cap  102 , and a screen  105 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , a sectional view of trap  100  is shown. In this embodiment, basin  103  is cylindrical with a base  304  and a vertical wall  302  extending vertically from the periphery of base  304 . Lid  104  is removably attached to the end of vertical wall  302  that is remote from base  304 . In this embodiment, lid  104  includes lip  307  to facilitate the attachment of lid  104  to vertical wall  302 . Lid  104  is preferably attached to vertical wall  302  by cable ties  501  in four locations. Alternatively, lid  104  may be attached by fasteners such as straps or buckles. Preferably, basin  103  and lid  104  are constructed from a durable plastic material such as PVC that is suitable for aquatic environments and strong enough to support the weight of trapped snails when removed from the water body. Alternatively, these components may be constructed from any materials that are suitable for immersion in water and that do not act as a snail repellent. In another alternative embodiment, lid  104  and basin  103  are formed in a single piece as a unitary component. 
         [0019]    Shoulder  306  on a gradual, upward radius, extends inwardly from lid  104  and terminates in vertical surface  300 . Vertical surface  300  extends vertically downward from shoulder  306  to form a shear vertical surface  300 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , standpipe  101  extends axially from trap  100  and, as shown in  FIG. 3 , extends through the center of base  304  via penetration  305 . Penetration  305  is slightly larger in diameter than standpipe  101 , thereby allowing axial movement of standpipe  101  while preserving the trapping integrity of trap  100 . Alternatively, base  304  does not have any penetrations and may be anchored by including weights within basin  103 . Standpipe  101  is preferably standard PVC pipe. Screen  105  is preferably circular in shape with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the opening defined by vertical surface  300 . Screen  105  has a center opening that is slightly larger than the diameter of standpipe  101  and is designed to slidingly receive standpipe  101  Screen  105  has a mesh size that is large enough to allow movement of water but small enough to prevent the passage of snails. Screen  105  is preferably formed from a durable, plastic material such as PVC. Further, screen  105  is formed from material that is less dense than water so that it is buoyant. Preferably, screen  105  is flat. In alternative embodiments, screen  105  may be dome shaped or cone shaped. 
         [0020]    In operation, as shown in  FIG. 7 , trap  100  is placed in a water body and positioned on the bottom  703  of a water body at a water surface  702  level such that water partially covers standpipe  101 . Standpipe  101  extends through base  304  through penetration  305  and is secured into bottom  703  of the water body to hold trap  100  in place. In an alternate embodiment, standpipe  101  does not penetrate through base  304  and trap  100  is weighted to secure it to the bottom of a water body. Bait  701 , is positioned within basin  103 . Snails are lured to trap  100  by bait  701 . Once at trap  100 , a snail can climb vertical wall  302 , move along shoulder  306 , then drop over vertical surface  300  onto screen  105 . The weight of the snail causes screen  105  to sink. When the snail moves off of screen  105  to access bait  701 , screen  105  then floats back into position at the base of vertical surface  300 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , copper strip  601  is positioned on the back side of vertical surface  300 . Because snails will not crawl over a copper surface, even if screen  105  is in close proximity to base  304 , snails are retained in trap  100 . 
         [0021]    Snails prefer to lay their eggs on vertical surfaces above the water line of a water body. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , standpipe  101  extends above the water line of a water body. When screen  105  is positioned at or near base  304 , snails may contact standpipe  101  above screen  105 . Snails may then climb standpipe  101  and lay their eggs above the surface of the water body. Because these snail eggs are highly visible, they provide a clear indication that aquatic snails are in a water body. Thus, trap  100  can be used as a sentinel in water bodies where the presence of snails may be suspected. 
         [0022]    Bait  701  is preferably a non-toxic, pelletized or block product of the type readily produced by milling companies as animal feed. In a preferred embodiment, bait  701  contains these constituents: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 Percent by Weight 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Wheat Midds 
                 31.8 
               
               
                   
                 Peanut Hulls 
                 27.5 
               
               
                   
                 Rice Mills 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Cottonseed Meal 
                 12.2 
               
               
                   
                 48% Soybean Meal 
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                 Alfalfa Meal 
                 3.9 
               
               
                   
                 Calcium 
                 2.5 
               
               
                   
                 SUPER-BIND 
                 1.0 
               
               
                   
                 Salt 
                 0.65 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0023]    The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. As an example, trap  100  can alternatively be based on a square, rectangular, or elliptical form factor. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.