A quarantine has been imposed on a section of Miramar, Florida, a suburb of Miami, due to the discovery of the giant African land snail, an invasive species. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDCAS) issued the order in June 2023 after the snails were initially reported earlier that month. The quarantine restricts the movement of the snails and regulated items like plants, soil, and yard waste within the designated zone without a compliance agreement.

The FDCAS plans to use a metaldehyde-based molluscicide, a snail bait approved for residential use, to eradicate the snails. Two specific areas within the broader quarantine zone have been identified for treatment. The giant African land snail poses a significant environmental threat, consuming over 500 plant species and causing substantial damage to tropical and subtropical environments. These snails can even eat through stucco and carry the rat lungworm parasite, which can lead to meningitis in humans.

Giant African land snails range from two to eight inches in length and exhibit various colors. Although illegal to own as pets, their size and unique coloration make them attractive to collectors. This isn't Florida's first encounter with this invasive species. The snails were first detected in 1969 and eradicated in 1975. A second infestation, discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011, was finally eliminated in 2021 after a decade-long effort.

The snails reproduce rapidly, with females capable of laying up to 2,500 eggs annually. Possessing these snails without a permit is illegal in the United States. The FDCAS urges anyone who believes they have encountered a giant African land snail to email a photo to [email protected]. They advise against handling the snails without gloves.