Bit of a Friday p[ost this one!
The confirmed sighting of a giant African snail, an invasive snail species, has sent a Florida county into lockdown.
This snail is lit:
- appetite for at least 500 different plants as well as paint and stucco
- At four months old, a single snail can lay thousands of eggs at a time and each can grow to be 8 inches long as an adult
- The snails are mobile — experts warn that they "cling to vehicles and machinery," plus trash, to "move long distances"
- and resilient, with the capacity to survive for a year while "inactive" and buried in soil to shield itself from unfavorable weather.
- They also present serious health risks to humans, as the snails carry a parasite called rat lungworm that can cause meningitis. People are advised to wear protective gear, like gloves, when handling them.
Apart from all that, everything is fine!
