State Agricultural Officials Declare War On Giant House-Eating Snails Invading South Florida; Exploding Population Poses Threats To Health, Structure

In Miami, Florida, WPLG-TV Channel 10 reports:

• State and federal agriculture officials are working to stop the spread of destructive giant snails whose population is exploding in South Florida.



• The giant African land snail, Achatina fulica, was first found in South Florida on Sept. 8. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services now has a crew of 70 people in South Florida snail hunting. Thousands of the snails have been collected on 85 properties in five areas in Miami-Dade County. "We've surveyed 8,000 properties. We've found 10,000 snails," said Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

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• "We're working diligently to keep this outbreak from spreading and impacting our Everglades and other natural areas. It impacts our agricultural commodities. It feeds on 500 different plants. It affects human health. It is a known carrier of meningitis," Putnam said.



• Officials said the snails also can cause structural damage to plaster and stucco.

For more, see Officials Work To Stop Spread Of Giant Snails (Snails Cause Destruction, Carry Disease).

See also, WPLG-TV Channel 10: Giant Snails Invade South Florida (Snail Can Grow Up To 8 Inches In Length).