Do you happen to have a giant African land snail? If you do, the US government would like you to turn it in - no questions asked.
According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture, giant African snails are becoming increasingly popular in science classes. They can also be found in nature centers, and some people keep them as pets. Unfortunately, they are also illegal in the continental US. Why? They are highly invasive, can cause extensive damage to crops, and may pose a risk to human health.
If you have such a snail, do not release it into the environment or give it away. The Service asks that you report it to your state department of agriculture or the APHIS office in your state.
Background Information
The following information was provided by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA:
"Giant African land snail" is the common name used to describe any of three snail species native to Africa and considered serious agricultural pests in the United States. The giant African snail (Achatina fulica), the giant Ghana tiger snail (Achatina achatina), and margies (Archachatina marginata) are large, terrestrial snails that reach 20 cm in length and 10 cm in maximum diameter. These snails are about the size of an average adult fist. The brownish shell with darker brown vertical stripes covers at least half the length of the snail.
Giant African snails have a voracious appetite. They are known to eat at least 500 different types of plants, including peanut, beans, peas, cucumbers, and melons. If fruits or vegetables are not available, the snails will eat a wide variety of ornamental plants, tree bark, and even paint and stucco on houses.
These snails also reproduce rapidly, laying as many as 100 to 400 eggs in a single session. Snails contain both male and female reproductive organs and can lay up to 1,200 eggs per year.
There are alternative snail species that may be used with science curricula. Ideally, snails that you collect locally can be used to teach about native fauna, and these can be used without a permit. Currently the US Department of Agriculture is reviewing permit procedures for exotic mollusks for educational purposes on a state by state basis. For more information on obtaining a permit, click here.