MIAMI.- The presence of the giant African snail is back in the news in the state of Florida after its presence was detected in an area of Miramar, in Broward County, in the south of the state.
On June 2, 2023, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of a giant African snail in the Miramar area. This detection was reported to the FDACS Plant Industry Division Helpline and a process was initiated to eliminate the invasive species.
This Tuesday, June 20, 2023, a quarantine was enacted and the treatment process began to eradicate this harmful agricultural pest. FDACS will treat the properties with a metaldehyde-based molluscicide (snail bait). The treatment is labeled by the US Environmental Protection Agency for residential use, according to an FDACS news release.
The giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world, consuming at least 500 different types of plants and also posing a health risk to humans. The invasive species had been found in Pasco County last year and in Miami-Dade County in 2021.
A COMMUNITY IN QUARANTINE
To prevent its spread, authorities established a quarantine in the area beginning at the intersection of Pembroke Road and South University Drive, south on South University Drive to NW 215 Street. From this intersection, east to SW 62 Avenue , and from this intersection north to Pembroke Road. The quarantine will continue west on Pembroke Road to its intersection with South University Drive.
With this quarantine it is determined that it is illegal to move the giant African snail or a regulated article, including, but not limited to, plants, parts of plants, plants in the soil, soil from that soil, yard waste, debris, compost, or building materials , from a quarantine area, without prior compliance agreement, as noted by the FDACS.
Treatment to eradicate this pest began this Tuesday, June 20, 2022. Metaldehyde is used, which is a pesticide used to control snails and slugs and is approved for use on a variety of crops, plants, and soils.
Property owners within the treatment area are notified at least 24 hours prior to treatment.
WHY ARE THEY CONSIDERED DANGEROUS?
The FDACS explains that these snails could be devastating to Florida’s agriculture and natural areas, since they cause extensive damage in tropical and subtropical environments.
Snails also pose a health risk to humans by carrying rat lungworm, which is known to cause meningitis in humans.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A GIANT SNAIL?
Snails should not be handled without gloves or proper protection.
If you have questions or think you have seen a giant African snail, call 1-888-397-1517 or send an email, preferably with a photo of the animal, to [email protected]. You can also contact your local authority.
BACKGROUND
Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other local agencies had indicated that they were dealing with giant African snails or Lissachatina fulica as a priority, of which some 2,000 specimens had been collected since their detection in Pasco County in June 2022.
Before the current identification in Miramar; in Pasco County, giant African snails had been collected last year.
The species has already been eradicated twice in Florida, the first time after its detection in 1969 in 1975, when the problem was considered overcome.
The second invasion occurred in 2011 in Miami-Dade County, and it took 10 years to eradicate the snails.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDAC) had reported in 2022 that it would take about 17 months to inspect and treat for this species only in Pasco, on the state’s west coast.
In December 2022 they were also detected in Lee County and in March 2023, after the FDACS analysis, a quarantine had been decreed for their eradication in an area of that county.
