Officials in Florida issued a quarantine order for Pasco County residents last week due to the reemergence of an invasive snail species. It is located north of Tampa, along Florida's gulf coast.
After confirming the existence of the notoriously destructive mollusk known as the giant African soil snail, authorities took immediate action. According to the agency, a division of Florida's department for agriculture responsible for pest control began to inspect the area in search of additional snail sightings after the quarantine had been lifted. On Tuesday, the control unit began treating the land with baited insecticide.
Florida's agriculture department called the giant African snail one of the most destructive mollusk types in the world. Because of its unusually large size, and its ability to reproduce in large numbers, the snail can quickly infiltrate surrounding areas and pose a threat to infrastructure and vegetation. A single snail can lay thousands upon thousands of eggs in four months. Each egg can reach 8 inches as an adult and can be weighed at least 500 grams.
Experts warn that the snails can be mobile and "cling" to machinery and vehicles to move long distances. They are also resilient and have the ability to live for up to a year without being active. The soil is used to protect them from adverse weather. The snails can also pose serious health problems for humans because they carry a parasite called the rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis. When handling snails, it is a good idea to use gloves or other protective gear.
Florida has seen a number of giant African land snails infest areas. Officials have found evidence of infestations in Florida that date back to 1960s. They are not native to the state. However, they were escaped from house pets or illegally imported by religious groups. The United States prohibits the importation or ownership of giant African land snails.
Florida's agriculture department recorded two cases where the snail had been completely eradicated. The latest was last year, 10 years after the first sighting of the giant snails in Miami-Dade County. Officials claim that a live snail was last seen in the area in 2017 before last week's sighting.
The department's website contains detailed information on giant African land snails as well as Florida's response.
