Invasion of killer snails the scale of rats nonetheless has city locked down in worry
Parts of a US town are still in a state of high alert two years after rat-sized killer snails were discovered.
The African land snails can transmit the dangerous lungworm parasite leading to meningitis in humans. They have been invading Florida since 2022, sparking a strict lockdown.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) raised the alarm about the presence of the pests in New Port Richey, Pasco County, and by the next day, the area was under quarantine.
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Residents were banned from transporting any plants, soil, debris, yard waste, compost, or building materials out of the affected zone.
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Today, three areas still remain in quarantine including Broward, Lee and Pasco counties.
“The giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world and consumes at least 500 different types of plants,” the FDACS warned
Reports suggest that the invasive snails could wreak havoc on local agriculture and natural habitats, posing a significant threat to tropical and subtropical ecosystems.
The giant African land snail has been eradicated twice in Florida. The first detection was in 1969, and it was eradicated in 1975.
According to FDACS, the most recent eradication of this pest was in 2021 after it was detected in 2011 in Miami-Dade County.
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The colossal snails breed rapidly, potentially laying up to 1,200 eggs annually, and with no natural predators, they present a formidable challenge to eradicate.
They can survive for up to nine years, growing to a size of eight inches, roughly the same size as an adult hand. The US Agriculture Department have been using a pesticide known as metaldehyde to curb the invasion.
The quarantine method aims to stop the snails from moving into more areas. The FCACS has had to obtain warrants to gain access to some homes where owners have refused to allow them use chemical treatments.
The giant African land snail is designated a plant pest under Florida law and may not be lawfully possessed in Florida.
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