The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the presence of giant African land snails in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County on June 23, according to the FDACS website.
Snails pose a risk to human health because they carry a parasite called rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis, Christina Chitti, director of public information at FDACS, told CNN.
They can produce up to 2,500 eggs per year, so the population is difficult to control.
According to Chitty, the population in Pasco County likely originated from the illegal pet trade. Giant African land snails are illegal to own as pets in the United States. But some exotic pet owners still harbor invasive pests. If owners throw them out into the wild or accidentally lose them, they can quickly establish themselves by feeding on over 500 different plant species and even consuming paint and plaster from houses as a source of calcium.
Chitty said the department is currently surveying the population and determining how many snails there are in Pasco County. Snails are native to East Africa and can grow up to 8 inches in length.
The quarantine took effect on June 25 and prevents residents from moving snails or related items, such as plants and soil, into or out of the designated quarantine zone. Residents who believe they have spotted a giant African land snail are advised to call the FDACS hotline and avoid touching the snail without gloves due to the risk of meningitis.
According to Chitty, FDACS plans to spend three years eradicating the population in Pasco County using the pesticide metaldehyde as a soil treatment.
“The goal is to eradicate” the snails, Chitty said. “It’s a comprehensive and extensive process.”
This isn’t the first time Florida has faced an invasion of giant snails. In 2011, a pest population was discovered in Miami-Dade County. It wasn’t until 2021 that the population was completely wiped out.
While the snails in Miami-Dade County had gray flesh, the snails in Pasco County have white flesh, Chitty said.
Add Comment