The story begins on June 23, when a gardener in New Port Richy, near Tampa, Florida, in the southeastern United States, comes across a strange specimen. A huge snail, which almost exceeds the size of his hand. Its shell is not round but conical, slightly pointed, light brown with white stripes. In the aftermath, other gastropods are reported in the region, some almost as big… as a rabbit.
Do you live in Pasco County? Have you seen an abnormally large snail roaming around? It could be a giant African land snail (GALS)! Learn more about GALS at our @FDACSDPI resource page: https://t.co/IU9OqKEqnU pic.twitter.com/yET0F2VwCH
—Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (@FDACS) July 3, 2022
This is the general alert: in 48 hours, the Florida Department of Agriculture launches the eradication operation. Opening of a toll-free number to collect testimonies, quarantine perimeter in which it is forbidden to touch snails with bare hands or to move them… Everywhere, the ground is sprayed with metaldehyde, a powerful pesticide.
Why so much panic for simple snails? Because it is an invasive species: “One of the hundred most invasive species on the planet”, authorities say. And for good reason: each giant snail lays several hundred eggs each month. Authorities estimate that it will take at least three years to eradicate them.
In 2011, still in Florida, Miami was faced with the same phenomenon. More than 35,000 molluscs counted: that ended last year. It took ten years to get over it. The problem is that the bug is super voracious: when it goes out – at night – it nibbles on all the plants within its reach, which is dramatic for vegetation and crops. And when it can’t find enough calcium in the soil for its shell, it attacks the painting of houses.
These snails carry a parasite, the rat lungworm. In humans, this parasite can cause a type of meningitis which, most of the time, gives headaches, nausea, vomiting, but can also lead to serious neurological damage or even death.
These molluscs suddenly appeared in Florida. Originally, they are East African snails. They probably come from the illegal pet trade: a trade like other exotic species that are not allowed to be owned in the United States. If their owner releases them into the wild or simply loses them, they proliferate.
The Giant African Snail could seriously impact the country’s food supply.
Persons who see Giant African Snails in the country should not crush or kill them. They should report sightings to the Ministry by calling or sending pictures to 8764420814
More at https://t.co/OK9q1QMj7E pic.twitter.com/TG1k9p6D3b
— IG:IRIEFM_JA (@IRIE_FM) July 14, 2022
The species has already been spotted in Hawaii, Guadeloupe, Martinique and the Caribbean. In Jamaica, the authorities launched an alert two days ago calling on the population to be extremely vigilant. Giant snails only live in very hot and very humid areas. In mainland France, rest assured, despite the heat wave, you shouldn’t have a funny encounter this summer in your garden…