Invasion of the Giant Snails!

The snail in the photo of this story looks like a post-nuclear mutant. I think I'd just as soon have a boa constrictor or gator in my garden as one of these things.

"On Tuesday, an area of Broward County, near Fort Lauderdale, enacted a quarantine after the invasive giant African land snail was detected there this month. Under the quarantine, which covers about 3.5 square miles, it is illegal to move the snail or any vegetation, soil, debris, compost or building materials, “within, through or out of” the area without a compliance agreement, a statement from the Florida Department of Agriculture says."

"The U.S. Agriculture Department calls the giant African land snail “one of the most damaging snails in the world” for a reason. It can carry dangerous specimens, including salmonella, bacteria and rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis. It can also cause structural damage to buildings by eating through stucco and plaster. And in Florida, where there is a large agriculture industry, the snail could even pose a threat to food security, the U.S. Geological Survey says."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/21/giant-african-land-snail-dangerous-florida/

 

Has anyone actually come across one in their yard? This is actually the third invasion since the 1960's.

 

These guys could tell you. I don't even like domestic non-mutant snails.

"In 2010, a religious group leader was investigated for smuggling the snails into Florida and encouraging his followers eat their mucus, the Miami New Times reported, possibly contributing to the spread of the snails."