Where Is It Legal to Own a Giant African Land Snail
On June 23, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of a giant African land snail in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County. This discovery was reported by a master gardener from Pasco County. This week, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services` (FDACS) Plant Industry Division (DPI), along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced the eradication of the African giant ground snail (FLAG) from Broward and Miami-Dade counties. This eradication announcement is only the second time this pest has been eradicated worldwide, both in South Florida. Over the past 11 years, the Plant Industry Division of the FDACS has worked towards eradication through several rounds of visual examinations and inspections, K-9 detector dog examinations and inspections, manual collection and treatment programs. A total of 168,538 snails were collected from 32 core population areas consisting of thousands of plots. Florida first saw the giant snails in the 1960s, when a boy from Miami allegedly smuggled some of them out of Hawaii. Her grandmother eventually dropped her snails in her garden — and started an infestation that took 10 years to eradicate it. Fagan said state officials don`t know how the latest infestation began.
But people have different reasons for importing snails. Sometimes they accidentally arrive in luggage or cargo. The USDA estimates that most of the snails seized this year were collected by hobbyists who wanted them as pets. They are also used in some African religious practices and even in some cosmetic procedures. And some people consider snails a delicacy in food. Hi guys, I know that giant African land snails are listed as invasive species in the US and therefore illegal. Snails are also susceptible to mites and flies. While most of these parasites are little more than a nuisance, some mites can burrow into the snail`s body, making it lethargic and unpleasant.
In the United States, the snail happily eats at least 500 species of plants, including fruits and vegetables, ornamental plants, and tree bark. Due to its calcium needs to keep its shell strong, the snail even eats wall plaster and stucco, damaging homes in the process. «The goal is to eradicate snails,» Chitty said. «It`s a comprehensive and extensive process.» African giant land snails can live in a 5-gallon glass or plastic tank with a safe, ventilated top. The tank should be placed in an area with indirect sunlight. Metaldehyde works by interfering with the mucus-producing ability of snails and snails. This reduces their digestion and mobility, making them prone to dehydration. Snails and snails that have eaten metaldehyde often look for hiding places, become inactive and begin to die within a few days.
The giant African land snail is a highly invasive agricultural pest known to feed on more than 500 plant species. They also pose a risk to humans and animals by carrying ratworm, a parasite that can cause meningitis in humans. The USDA and DPI will remain vigilant in their commitments to protect U.S. agriculture through investigation, early detection, and rapid response. The public should continue to monitor snails and report suspects to the FDACS-DPI helpline at 1-888-397-1517. If you`re interested in a pet like the land snail that`s more readily available and legal to own, check out these options: Left: The African giant snail can eat plaster, stucco and 500 species of plants, including most row crops and citrus fruits, making it a nuisance in places like Florida where local authorities are trying to eradicate it. Photo by Flickr user Coleg Gwent Eating or handling them could be dangerous, government officials said. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, snails can carry a parasitic worm that can lead to meningitis. This isn`t the first time Florida has faced an invasion of giant snails. In 2011, a pest population was discovered in Miami-Dade County. It was only in 2021 that the population was completely eradicated. According to Chitty, Pasco County`s population likely comes from the illegal pet trade.
African giant land snails are illegal to own as pets in the United States. But some exotic pet owners still keep invasive parasites. If homeowners throw them into the wild or accidentally lose them, they can quickly gain a foothold, feed on more than 500 different plant species, and even consume paint and stucco from homes as a source of calcium. «Don`t play with snails when you`re on vacation,» he said. Do you think you`ve found a giant African land snail? See identity sheet. Still not sure? Email a photo to DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov for identification. Consumption was the obvious reason for one person`s attempt to bring 67 live snails to California in July. U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Los Angeles International Airport intercepted the snails, which were declared for human consumption by a person from Nigeria and destined for a location in Corona, California. Customs officials said the person did not appear to know that importing the live snails into the U.S. was illegal. In June 2022, the Plant Industry Division of FDACS began investigating the area, imposed a quarantine and began the treatment process to eradicate this harmful agricultural pest.
The FDACS treats the properties with a molluscicide based on metaldehyde (snail bait). The treatment is labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for residential use. Although the giant African land snail may seem like a fun exotic pet, it is considered one of the most invasive pests in the world and it is illegal to possess it in the United States. The Ministry of Agriculture is trying to stop them. Since June, ministry authorities have seized more than 1,200 live specimens of giant snails, also known as African giant land snails, all of which have been traced back to someone in Georgia who sold them illegally. Since it is illegal to own a giant African land snail, it is also not ethical to keep one as a pet. According to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, the African giant snail is a threat to agriculture and human health, so illegal possession of a snail is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. If the snail or its eggs were released into the wild, potential damage could include disease transmission and crop destruction. Exercise is not a consideration when guarding a giant African ground snail. Just crawl into their pen. Do not let these snails roam freely outside, as they pose risks to the environment and other people. African giant snail (ASG), African giant land snail, Kalutara snail In the United States, African giant land snails (Achatina fulica) are illegal to possess because they are considered an invasive species. For the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this snail is a problem, mainly because of its size. As a result, a much smaller number of snails can eat a larger amount of grain, which affects agricultural production in the process. These animals are on average about 8 inches long. The ban on owning these animals is unfair given that most other pets are not native to the United States, such as cats, dogs, hamsters, chinchillas, and almost all kinds of birds, fish, or reptiles.
Even animals like the alligator and crocodile monitor are legal in some states (both of which can cause significant bodily harm), but a non-toxic, non-toxic, leaf-eating snail is considered too dangerous to keep as a pet. In the UK, it is legal to keep them as pets with a license, but if they are released, the previous owner would be fined. If the U.S. implemented a similar strategy, people with severe animal allergies, such as cats, dogs, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, etc., would have access to a pet to interact with. They eat greens like lettuce and cabbage and almost all vegetables and fruits (except citrus fruits). If this petition gets enough signatures, I will send a petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mark Fagan, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture, said the agency has so far found 141,000 snails in 26 areas of Miami-Dade County.
Fortunately, he said, they have not yet made their way into the state`s rich agricultural areas.