Scientists in Banff National Park feared that the tiny snails that live in the hot springs may have been killed off and are relieved that the little creatures are making a comeback.
The endangered Banff Park Snail lives year round in 36 degree spring water, but last year the Kidney Springs dried up and scientists thought all the snails had died.
It turns out that the little creatures are heartier than imagined and scientists are one step closer to restoring the population in the park using a unique form of genetic testing.
"Now this will be brand new, I don't think anyone has tried to use the mucus trail or tried to get genetic information from feces of snails, but it's worth doing that because it means we don't have to sacrifice any individuals," said Dwayne Lepitzki, Contract Biologist.
The tiny snails are only found in hot springs in the park.
Last March, one of those springs dried up and biologists thought all the snails had been killed.
In July, they were surprised to find six tiny snails still alive.
The little snails were able to survive by following trickles of the warm spring water.
There are now 150 snails in the pool and the population is growing.
Genetic testing will help staff to determine if all the park's snails are related and can be saved.
"So for a few extra steps we can do this genetic work and it will help us have a lot more certainty as to what we're dealing with, how to manage them and we'll be able to come up with a better emergency plan for insuring the safety of these snails and at the same time being the most efficient with our efforts," said Bill Hunt, from Parks Canada.
The Kidney and Middle Springs are restricted to the public, but you can view the snails in their habitat below the Cave and Basin from the boardwalk.
