This March, snails are making a scene at Heal the Bay Aquarium! Snailfest is gastropod-themed weekend on March 9-10, 2024 from 12:00-4:00 PM. Celebrate terrestrial and aquatic snails and learn about these invertebrates’ role in Los Angeles.

Many land snail species native to Southern California are threatened with extinction because their natural habitat has been reduced or changed by human development. Some freshwater snails like the New Zealand Mud Snail can be very invasive to local habitats. You can learn more about local snail species by visiting the new Snail Science Lab at Heal the Bay Aquarium!

Admission

Snailfest is included in price of Aquarium admission.

Adults and kids 13+: $12.00
Kids 12 and under: FREE with an Adult Ticket Purchase (Children MUST be accompanied by an adult)

Students: $10.00 
Older Adults (65+): $10.00 
EBT (cardholder): Free  
Military (active-duty military personnel, retired military personnel, and veterans): Free  

Group rate: For groups of 5 or more adults ($9.00/each person); for groups of 10 or more children ($3.00/each child)

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iNaturalist

This month, we are sharing information about how anyone can use iNaturalist to help researchers better understand the biodiversity of snails and slugs in Los Angeles County. iNaturalist is an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. This network helps crowdsource species identification and records how many times each species is observed in an area. You can use iNaturalist to record your own observations, get help with identifications, or access data for independent research. INaturalist’s mission is to build a global community of 100 million naturalists by 2030. Together, our combined observations may aid conservation efforts all around the world.

Use iNaturalist to identify snails and slugs you discover in nature! Snails and slugs can be found all over Los Angeles County on land, in freshwater streams, and in marine tide pools. Your observations can help researchers better understand the biodiversity of snails and slugs in Los Angeles County.

How to use iNaturalist

1. First, download the free iNaturalist app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

2. Create an account.

3. Take a picture of your observation.

4. Note whether it is captive (a landscaped plant or pet) or wild (a weed or wild critter.)

5. Share the location where you found this observation and any notes.

6. Then upload your observation to iNaturalist