Posted on 04/15/2013 6:20:45 AM PDT by Red Badger
South Florida residents are being warned to be on the lookout for one of the world's most destructive invasive species: the giant African land snail, which can grow as big as a rat.
The huge mollusks were first spotted in Florida in 2011, and their numbers are growing, Reuters reports. More than 1,000 are being caught each week in Miami-Dade County and more will continue to emerge from hibernation in the coming weeks.
The snails can gnaw through stucco and plastic, and attack "over 500 known species of plants ... pretty much anything that's in their path and green," Denise Feiber, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, told Reuters.
In some Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, which are overrun with the creatures, the snails' shells blow out tires on the highway and turn into hurling projectiles from lawnmower blades, while their slime and excrement coat walls and pavement.
"It becomes a slick mess," Feiber said
A typical snail can produce about 1,200 eggs a year and the creatures are a particular pest in homes because of their fondness for stucco, devoured for the calcium content they need for their shells.
The snails also carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis, Feiber said, although no such cases have yet been identified in the United States.
Experts gathered last week in Gainesville, Florida, for a Giant African Land Snail Science Symposium, to seek the best ways to eradicate the mollusks, including use of a stronger bait approved recently by the federal government.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I for one welcome our new giant snail overloards and would remind them that an astute internet commenter would be a valuable asset in their quest for world domination.
Philly has a bunch of the other.
We need to open up our borders to the French....
Could someone please explain why the world’s supply of vermin, parasites, and incurable diseases always seem to originate from Africa?
I’m surprised that these things do well in South Florida, given the number of rats, possums, racoons, armidillos, and water birds. Are they poisonous?
We had these little gems on Guam when I was stationed there in the late 70's. Running over them with the lawnmower was almost like running over big rocks. You had to do a sweep of the lawn before mowing to clear them all out.
The snails also carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis
You can have my share.
I’ll send my wife and her family down. They’ll eat these in no time.
In a related story: Millions of slugs causing problems for US taxpayers
Second solution.....
Can we train 'em to attack enviro-weenies?
Ought not to be a problem if you cook them thoroughly... and I bet a couple-three of these would make a nice pot of chowder.
The answer to pestilence: 2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Target practice!
Gives a new meaning to “salting the earth”.
The snails also carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis
Zap the critters with 700 RADS of gamma radiation first and they’ll be fine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.