Florida Authorities Strengthen Initiative to Prevent Snails from Spreading Further; Use Metaldehyde Pesticide as Preventive Measure

The giant African snail might not be fast, but it is huge, hungry, and quick in terms of reproduction. More so, this creature is a potential health risk to humans and has once again invaded the state of Florida in the United States.

Accordion to a Phys.org report, biologist Jason Stanley, from the Department of Agriculture of Florida said the gastropod is greedily feeding on more than 500 different kinds of plants. He added, that they are concerned with that being in the environment.

Since the latter part of June this year, employees from his agency have combing through the gardens of New Port Richey, a small town on the west coast of Florida, where the intrusive species has taken root.

Essentially, a gigantic African snail can lay up to 2,000 eggs every year, explained Stanley, which coupled with its appetite, could spell tragedy for the robust agriculture industry of Florida.

Labrador Trained to Sniff Out Snails

In a grassy plot of land in New Port Richey, a yellow Labrador trained to sniff out the snails is seen walking with his handler.

He looks beneath a tree and sniffs around the grass. When the Labrador eventually locates a snail, he's sitting directly atop it, not to mention, trained to do so.

Authorities in Florida believe that the snail, native to eastern Africa, was reintroduced to the state when an individual took it home as a pet.

Different from other brown-tinted giant snails, this specific breed has white flesh. Stanley explained such white phenotypes are quite popular in the pet market.

Government Initiatives

Through Mellon's talents and another snail-sniffing canine, over 1,000 giant African snails have already been captured in Pasco County, where New Port Richey is found.

Moreover, authorities are trying to stamp out the giant snails as well, through the application of a pesticide called metaldehyde, which is harmless to humans and animals, a similar WhatsNew2day report specified.

The state Department of Agriculture has instituted a quarantine zone within New Port Richey. This means that no plans or other vegetation can be taken out from the area to try to prevent the snails from spreading further.

Stanley also said that one more issue with this snail is that, it is carrying the so-called "rat lungworm" which can cause meningitis in humans.

Rat Lungworm Dangerous to Humans

The said parasite type, which has been detected among the snails captured in Pasco County, enters the lungs of rats when they eat the snails, and then spreads when the mice cough.

If a person ingests one of the worms, explained Stanley, it typically makes its way to the brain stem, the area where it can result in meningitis. Jay Pasqua, a local resident, still can't believe this stir caused by the giant African snail.

In late June, according to AFP News through Yahoo! News, an official from the Department of Agriculture went to his lawn mower sales and repair store in New Port Riche to flag the invasive species' presence.

At first, he recalled, "it was kind of funny to see all the attention" the snail was getting. However, he continued, after beginning to understand their growth process, how they got there, and what illnesses and promises they bring, it indeed, turn out to be a concern at that time.

Since then, he discovered dozens of pests in his garden, even though he said he has not seen any for three days.

Related report about the snails in Florida is shown on FOX 13 Tampa Bay's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Snails on Science Times.