AGFC discovers invasive apple snails in live crawfish shipments - The Evening Times (2024)

FAQs

AGFC discovers invasive apple snails in live crawfish shipments - The Evening Times? ›

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission warned on Tuesday of the discovery of apple snails recently found in live crawfish shipments from Louisiana. The giant invasive species has not been found in the wild in Arkansas but has been abundant in Louisiana for many years, according to the AGFC.

Decollate snails (Rumina decollata) and aquatic snails in the family Ampullaridae ( e.g., Pomacea canaliculata, channeled apple snail), with one exception, may not be imported or moved interstate except for research purposes into an APHIS inspected containment facility.

However, it's important not to touch the shells unless you're wearing gloves or are able to wash your hands immediately afterward. That's because apple snails can carry a parasite known as rat lungworm. This parasite normally affects animals that eat apple snails, but can also affect humans who touch their shells.

Native to South America, believed to have been introduced as a food crop, although also available in aquarium stores. apple snails bought in aquarium stores then released for culture as food items, appears to have been one reason for the spread of Pomacea canaliculata in Hawaii.

The snails were first seen in Florida in the 1980s and now have wild populations in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. A Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea maculata) laying eggs on a concrete platform near a freshwater stream.

As with any invasive species, apple snails will overpopulate and steal resources away from native species, disrupting natural ecological processes. They consume large quantities of plant material, damaging important habitat for native fish and wildlife.

Apple snails are one of the most invasive species on our planet. Consuming several plants that provide food and habitats for various wildlife, and disrupting entire ecosystems, these snails have earned a permanent ban from the United States, only allowed in the country for research.

The glossy ibis and the yellow-legged gull were the main potential predators of apple snail, followed by the blue crab, the Norwegian rat, the Perez's frog and the slider turtle (Fig.

Snails live around one to two years in tropical climates. Due to the warm temperatures the snails do not hibernate and reproduce throughout their lifetime. They spend most of their time in the water making them hard to detect. Their eggs, which are bright pink and laid just above the waterline, are more visible.

A often better and easier way to kill or sedate an apple snail is by placing the animal in the freezer at 0°C for about 12 hours (killing) respectively at about 5°C for 1/2 hour (sedation).

Are apple snail eggs edible? ›

Experts say their eggs can pose a threat to humans if they're not handled properly. The eggs are bright pink masses that snails lay on structures and plants partially emerging from water. The eggs contain a protein neurotoxin called PcPV2, which can kill mice and cause irritation of the skin and eyes in humans.

Crushing egg masses and adults is more effective than knocking egg masses into the water, which ultimately suffocates and kills the eggs. Spraying egg masses with a powerful stream of water is an effective way to suppress egg masses, particularly those in areas hard to reach.

Additionally, Apple Snails can present human health risks. They may carry rat lungworm, which can cause a potentially fatal disease in humans if the snails are eaten raw or undercooked. The snail's egg masses also contain a toxin which can cause skin and eye rashes.

Regulatory Status

Island apple snails are not native to Florida. A permit from the United States Department of Agriculture is required for the importation and interstate transport of island apple snails.

Apple snails have a heavy golden yellow to dark brown shell with dark banding. Among the largest freshwater snails, apple snails are typically between 2 and 4 inches tall. The largest shells can reach 6 inches.

Whether you want a new addition to an already thriving freshwater aquarium or you're in search of a new, low-maintenance pet, an apple snail is a great choice.

The only snails you can have as pets are what you can find locally because it is illegal to transport snails between states or import them. Helix pomatia are the largest legal if you can find them in your state, but they're not found in the majority of states and they're much smaller than GALS.

Some species of snails, such as the giant African land snail, are actually illegal to own in the United States due to concerns with invasiveness and crop damage. Check with your state laws before purchasing a pet snail, or simply opt to care for a brown garden snail you find outside.

USDA and APHIS do not have Otala lactea as an illegal import but do have guidelines for those trying to import this snail in to the United States: “While snails may not require a containment facility, their great reproductive potential and ability to escape coupled with their plant feeding activities means that great ...