AFRICAN land snails may seem harmless, but can actually harbor numerous diseases that can affect humans.
On June 25, 2022, a county in Florida was forced to quarantine due to an invasion of the slimy species.
Where do African land snails live?
African land snails are native to Africa and can grow up to 8 inches long.
These snails can be naturally found in areas all around the world, including:
- African countries like Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya, Somalia, Ivory Coast, and Morocco.
- Islands like Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Islands of the Caribbean.
- Asian countries like China, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, and more.
The snails tend to thrive in hot and humid climates, although it is capable of living in temperate climates too.
They often live along the edges of forests, banks of rivers and streams, shrublands, agricultural areas, plantations, gardens, wetlands and in various urban sites, according to Snail World.
Can African land snails become pets?
It is illegal to keep African land snails as pets in the United States.
According to Snail World, they are considered one of the most invasive species in the world due to their high reproduction rate and the extensive damage they can cause to essential crops.
African land snails can lay up to 2,500 eggs per year and are actually extremely dangerous to agriculture and humans.
The snails can transmit numerous diseases including rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis, according to CNN.
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What are African land snails doing in Florida?
Pasco County, Florida is under quarantine as of June 25, 2022, due to the discovery of a fast-growing population of invasive giant African land snails, according to FDACS’ website.
FDACS states: “It is unlawful to move the giant African land snail or a regulated article, including but not limited to, plants, plants parts, plants in soil, soil, yard waste, debris, compost or building materials, within, through or from a quarantine area without a compliance agreement.”
The snails can feed on over 500 different plant species and even consume the paint and stucco off houses as a source of calcium, according to CNN.
Residents are advised to call the FDACS hotline if they think they have spotted an African land snail and to avoid touching the species without gloves due to risk of infection.
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Treatment to eradicate this pests began on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
Florida dealt with a previous snail invasion back in 2011 in Miami-Dade County. It took nearly 10 years to fully eradicate the species.
