Giant African Land Snails on Human Hand – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Olena Kurashova
Invasive huge African land snails, one of the most deadly kinds, were spotted in some areas in Florida’s Broward County on Tuesday, according to officials.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services stated in a news statement on Tuesday that the quarantine was put in place after snails were discovered earlier this month in the county’s Miramar area.
Essentially, the quarantine makes it illegal to carry soil, compost, or yard waste into or out of the area if they are plants or gigantic African land snails without a compliance agreement from the agriculture department.
According to a map provided by the agency, the state constructed two treatment areas within the quarantine region.
According to a news release, the state agriculture department intends to employ the same treatment approach, a kind of snail bait authorized for residential use called metaldehyde-based molluscicide.
After the snails were found, the Pasco County neighborhood of New Port Richey was quarantined the previous year.
At least 500 distinct plant species are consumed by giant African land snails, who can also chew through stucco, plastic recycling containers, and even signage. Their calcium shells have sharp, pointed edges that can puncture the tires of moving automobiles.
The state Department of Agriculture warned on Tuesday that “these snails could be devastating for Florida agriculture and natural areas as they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments.”
According to the State Department of Agriculture, snails are also a threat to human health since they are hosts to a parasite called rat lungworm, which can lead to meningitis. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness causes the membranes encircling the brain and spinal cord to expand.
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Melissa’s career in writing started more than 20 years ago. Today, she lives in South Florida with her husband and two boys.
