A few Giant African Snails have been popping up in Pasco County. The first sighting was confirmed on June 23. They are invasive, posing a threat to vegetation as well as potentially spreading rat lungworm. Luckily, you are unlikely to see one and if you do; they are easy to spot. However, they do breed rapidly, so if you happen upon a Giant African snail, here’s what you need to know.
What do Giant African Snails look like?
The adult snail is around 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter and 20 cm (7.9 in) or more in length. The shell is cone shaped and brown.
Where do they come from?
The Giant African Snail is native to East Africa, predominantly in Kenya and Tanzania. However, they are highly invasive as they are highly adaptable to new environments. Releasing them into the wild is illegal the species can now be found in many humid, subtropical climates — including Florida.
Currently in Pasco County, a quarantine is in place, starting at the northwest corner of U.S. Highway 19 and Ridge Road. Proceed east on Ridge Road, south on Little Road, west on Trouble Creek Road, north on U.S. Highway 19. This is near where the last snail was seen.
What do they do?
The Giant African Snail is an herbivore that eats a wide variety of plant material including fruit, vegetables, lichens and fungi. However, they have also been known to eat paper, cardboard, sand and even small pebbles. Sometimes they will eat stucco in buildings as a source for calcium.
In terms of reproduction, they lay shelled eggs numbering at about 200 eggs per clutch, 5 to 6 clutches per year. So when they reproduce — it’s a lot. They can also live for up to 10 years.
What to do if you see a Giant African snail
In Pasco County, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has begun to survey the area. They started treatment for the snail on June 29, 2022. FDACS will treat properties with a metaldehyde-based molluscicide (snail bait). The treatment is labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for residential use.
If you see a snail in your yard, call 1-888-397-1517 or email DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov
