Expert: California Drought A Possible Boon For Leech Population In Rivers

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — For many, they are disgusting to think about, but some CBS13 viewers say they found blood-sucking leeches in the water near Discovery Park.

One viewer says he saved one of the creatures and we took it to a lab.

Joseph Sturdivan said after discovering a long, flat, grey creature swimming on the banks of the American River at Discovery Park and saved it.

"I don't know what this is so I pick it up and it latched on to my hand," he said.

CBS13 asked Sacramento County what they knew of it and they said they had no reports of a leech problem along the rivers. But after we received other reports of leech sightings in Sacramento, we went to get answers from an expert.

"The warmer the water that they are in, the more active they would be," said Steve Heydon, an entomologist with the UC Davis Bohart Museum of Entomology.

Heydon showed off leeches of different kinds, and says it's possible they are populating along the banks with help from the drought.

"The drought it probably concentrating them a little bit, and then also this time of year there's a lot of tadpoles and things so people would be walking around in marshy areas where they are more likely to encounter leeches," he said.

Heydon looked at the creature Sturdivan found and said it closely resembles a freshwater leech, but he couldn't say with absolute certainty.

So far, Sacramento County is not confirming they have any evidence of leeches, so there is always a possibility the creatures some are seeing are a dead ringer, but a different animal.

Experts say if a leech is stuck to you, use a fingernail to remove it and not a flame or salt.