JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An invasive giant African snail that has already had to be eradicated twice in the last 50 years in Florida is back and one county is on high alert. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed there were giant African land snails found in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County on June 23, according to FDACS’ website. Residents who think they have spotted a giant African land snail are asked to call the FDACS hotline and avoid touching the snail without gloves on due to the meningitis risk. FDACS said it plans to spend three years eradicating the population in Pasco County, using the pesticide metaldehyde to treat the soil. This is not the first time Florida has dealt with an invasion of giant snails, CNN reported.

Source: CNN July 04, 2022 06:59 UTC