In a Florida village, reports of giant snails the size of rats have surfaced.
On June 23, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of the giant African land snail in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County.
The ‘invasive’ species is said to be native to Africa and is now a home to the rat lungworm, a parasite that can infect people and lead to meningitis.
Next day, the area was placed under quarantine.
Unlike a Covid-19 quarantine, residents are not allowed to transport plants, soil, yard waste, rubbish, compost, or building materials outside the specified zone.
According to FDACS, at least 500 different kinds of plants are consumed by the giant African land snail, one of the most destructive snails in the world.
Due to their severe harm to tropical and subtropical habitats, the snails might be disastrous to local agriculture and natural areas.
These snails lay 1,200 eggs every year, which is a high rate of reproduction.
Since they have no natural predators, they are also difficult to eradicate.
Each snail has a nine-year lifespan and can reach a length of eight inches, or about the size of an adult hand.
Last Monday, the US Agriculture Department began using a pesticide called metaldehyde, which is well-known for managing snails and slugs, to treat this pest.
At least 24 hours before the scheduled pesticide treatment, property owners inside the treatment area will receive a personal or posted notice of the treatment.
