Snails that grow to the size of rats found in Florida

[BoysInBlue]

ORLANDO — South Florida is fighting a growing infestation of one of the world's most destructive invasive species: the giant African land snail, which can grow as big as a rat and gnaw through stucco and plaster.
More than 1,000 of the mollusks are being caught each week in Miami-Dade and 117,000 in total since the first snail was spotted by a homeowner in September 2011, said Denise Feiber, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Residents will soon likely begin encountering them more often, crunching them underfoot as the snails emerge from underground hibernation at the start of the state's rainy season in just seven weeks, Feiber said.

The snails attack "over 500 known species of plants ... pretty much anything that's in their path and green," Feiber said. In some Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, which are overrun with the creatures, the snails' shells blow out tires on the highway and turn into hurling projectiles from lawnmower blades, while their slime and excrement coat walls and pavement.

The last known Florida invasion of the giant mollusks occurred in 1966, when a boy returning to Miami from a vacation in Hawaii brought back three of them, possibly in his jacket pockets. His grandmother eventually released the snails into her garden where the population grew in seven years to 17,000 snails. The state spent $1 million and 10 years eradicating them.

They should feed them to that 2 headed pig I posted about yesterday.

 

[Groucho]

Took the baby to Chester Zoo today, there was something referring to giant snails there.

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

Son of a...I wonder if that's what I took a pic of in the boss photos thread.

 

[carlos21]

nice pic there.

 

[McBain]

I think the local Government should introduce the French to counter the threat.

 

[IRO1977]

To be fair, if you don't spot one of them when you're lawnmowing you've only got yourself to blame

 

[Baines' left foot]

Why do women have legs?


Have you seen the mess snails make?

 

[Bacon On]

Why do women have legs?


Have you seen the mess snails make?

Haha, i'll tell me bird Shelly that one.

 

[bignev23]

They make a nice pie apparently

Meanwhile, in Africa, where lots of people are starving to death, some groups are studying ways to use the snails for yummy, healthy meals. It turns out that snail meat has more protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and other good vitamins than beef does. Also, it's easy and cheap to get. One good way to eat it is to make it into a pie. But you have to be sure you cook the snails properly so you won't get meningitis from a parasite that likes to live in the snails.

 

[peteblue]

They make a nice pie apparently

Meanwhile, in Africa, where lots of people are starving to death, some groups are studying ways to use the snails for yummy, healthy meals. It turns out that snail meat has more protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and other good vitamins than beef does. Also, it's easy and cheap to get. One good way to eat it is to make it into a pie. But you have to be sure you cook the snails properly so you won't get meningitis from a parasite that likes to live in the snails.

That was going so well.......