![]() ![]() The snails are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs. Giant African Land Snails are eager breeders, which is one reason why they are an invasive species. The Breeding Habits of Giant African Land Snails Remember that you should not touch or move the snails since they could carry dangerous diseases. If you live in or near Pasco County, Florida and see a Giant African Land Snail, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Once the last snail is eradicated, the state will continue monitoring the properties for the next two years. Specially trained dogs are also used to sniff out the snails. For the next year and a half, all properties where the snails are found will be treated with a snail and slug solution called metaldehyde. The state of Florida is taking a multi-step approach to dealing with the most recent Giant African Land Snail infestation. This is where this current infestation was suspected to originate. This color is more common in the illegal pet trade industry. Instead of having a dark gray or brown body, the most recent snail population have cream-colored bodies. It is worth noting that this new Giant African Land Snail infestation is different from previous ones. The state set up a quarantine zone to make it illegal to move them out of Pasco County. Since then, the state discovered over 1400 snails. In June 2022, Giant African Land Snails were once again discovered in Florida, this time in Pasco County. Owning the snails as a pet is illegal, as is importing them without the proper permits. ![]() It is currently unknown how the Giant African Land Snail population makes its way to Florida. The snails came back in 2017, and this time the state spent $23 million to eradicate them over ten years. The state spent $1 million to eradicate them, and it took almost a decade to fully wipe out the invasive species. As mentioned above, Giant African Land Snails were first discovered in Florida in 1969. ![]()
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