Giant snail that punctures car tires, eats paint puts county in quarantine
One year after giant African snails made headlines in Florida, they're is back in the news, with officials ramping up their efforts to control the invasive species. Earlier this week, one such snail was spotted in Florida's Broward County, forcing it into quarantine Business Insider reports.
The snails, native to East Africa, are considered one of the most damaging in the world because it consumes 500 different types of plants and tree bark. It will also eat stucco and paint on houses.
The snails are considered one of the "most damaging in the world" (file photo/Canva Pro)
Reaching a size equivalent to a human fist, the gastropods carry the rat lungworm parasite that can transmit a type of meningitis.
If you see one while on the road, steer clear. Their shells feature pointy edges capable of puncturing car tires.
It is unclear how the snail made its way to Florida, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website says they can hitchhike on cargo. Sometimes, people will illegally import them as pets. The snails are illegal to import or possess in the U.S. without a permit.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the quarantined areas will be treated with a pesticide and monitored - a tactic that has been used to curb past infestations.
The first time the snails were spotted in Florida was in the 1960s. The infestation cost $1 million and took a decade to eradicate, Reuters reports. A 2010 infestation took another decade to get under control at a cost of $23 million.
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Header image: file photo via Canva Pro.
