Some Things You Need to Know About East African Land Snails

General Description and Location

East African land snails are also referred to
as Giant African land snails, or Achatina
fulica. Even though these snails produce fairly
beautiful colored conical shells ranging in size
from 7 - 20 centimeters, they are considered one
of the most invasive species in the world. While
most snails produce shells that range in various
shades of brown, they can also occur with cream
or pinkish coloring and banding. As you may
suspect from their name, Giant African land
snails originated in Kenya and Tanzania. They
are found throughout the tropical regions of the
Pacific as well as East Asia and the Caribbean

Problems for Humans and Animals

East African land snails pose a hazard to
humans as well as animals and plants. While
these snails will not bite or cause other types
of damage, they act as hosts to a wide range of
pathogens that can infect humans and animals.
This includes intestinal worms and meningitis.

These snails are also avid consumers of fruits,
vegetables, and other plant materials. In some
areas, they are known to wipe out entire crops,
as well as forests, grasslands, and scrub brush.
Today, it is illegal to keep East African land
snails as pets in the United States and other
parts of the world. Unfortunately, these snails
have already colonized many areas, and pose a
serious hazard to native organisms in target
regions.

Natural Solutions

Even though these snails pose a number of
problems, they can still be consumed by humans.
In some areas, governments are debating
promoting this usage of snails, since it may
also encourage further growth by individuals
that want to grow them for commercial purposes.
Needless to say, if you see these snails in your
garden, you can always do some research to find
out how to cook them and save some money on your
food bill.

When it comes to eliminating these snails from
your garden, it is important to realize they
will eat just about anything. This includes
animal bones as well as plant materials and
beer. Unlike other snails, East African Land
Snails will actually thrive on the yeast that
remains in this particular beverage. That said,
you can still spray them with wet coffee grinds,
as well as use lemon and orange peels to get rid
of them. Since snails also receive an electrical
shock from copper, you can try spreading pennies
around your garden, as well as make use of
copper cages.

If you live in an area where these snails are
considered a threat to the local habitat, the
government may already be employing a range of
solutions. This includes salting the ground, as
well as using a wide range of pesticide and weed
killers. Since these snails harbor pathogens and
pose other risks, you should still contact your
local board of health if you see them. At the
very least, you can find out if there is a
program in place to manage them, as well as
determine if you need to take additional steps
to get rid of them.

Recent Outbreaks

At the current time, East African land snails
are considered an invasive species in the
Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and East Asia. They
are also widely found in Brazil and some parts
of the United States.

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