Snails pose a health risk to humans because they carry a parasite called rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis, Christina Chitty, director of public information at FDACS, told CNN. They can produce up to 2,500 eggs per year, so the population is difficult to control. According to Chitty, the population in Pasco County likely came from the illegal pet trade. Giant African land snails are illegal to own as pets in the United States. But some exotic pet owners still keep the invasive pests. If owners throw them out into the wild or accidentally lose them, they can quickly establish a base, feeding more than 500 different plant species and even consuming paint and stucco from houses as a source of calcium. Chitty said the department is currently surveying the population and determining how many snails there are in Pasco County. Snails are native to eastern Africa and can grow up to 8 inches in length. The quarantine took effect on June 25 and prevents residents from moving the snail or related items, such as plants and soil, into or out of the designated quarantine area. Residents who believe they have spotted a giant African land snail are advised to call the FDACS hotline and avoid touching the snail without gloves due to the risk of meningitis. According to Chitty, FDACS plans to spend three years eradicating the population in Pasco County, using the pesticide metaldehyde as a soil treatment. “The goal is to eradicate” the snails, Chitti said. “It’s a comprehensive and extensive process.” This is not the first time Florida has faced an invasion of giant snails. In 2011, a population of the parasites was discovered in Miami-Dade County. It wasn’t until 2021 that the population was completely wiped out. While the snails in Miami-Dade County had gray-colored flesh, the snails in Pasco County have white flesh, Chitty said.
