Published
Oct. 4, 2023, 7:01 p.m. ET
Oh, shell no.
An invasive species of snails known to be deadly to humans and disastrous to marine life has slithered its way into North Carolina.
The toxic Apple Snails were discovered last month in multiple clusters along the Lumber River in Lumberton, a city 30 miles south of Fayetteville, the state’s Wildlife Resources Commission announced Monday.
“Native to South America, this is the first known population of Apple Snails in North Carolina,” the NCWRC said in a statement.
The aquatic snails frequently carry parasites, which pose a lethal threat to humans who come in contact with the invasive gastropods.
If eaten raw or undercooked by people or animals, the Apple Snail can transmit the brain-attacking rat lungworm, which can also lead to meningitis.
The snail’s egg masses also contain a toxin that can cause skin and eye rashes.
Apple Snails were found along the Lumber River in North Carolina last month.N.C. Wildllife Resources Commission
Apple Snails also cause catastrophic effects on an area’s ecosystems — their grazing habits can destroy plants used by many native aquatic species.
The snails have also been seen feeding on amphibian eggs.
The invasive species is easily identifiable. They can grow up to 6 inches in size — which is much larger than any of North Carolina’s native aquatic snails — and they deposit massive pink egg clusters on tree trunks and other vegetation above the waterline of fresh river reservoirs.
The invasive aquatic species poses a threat to humans and river ecosystems.N.C. Wildllife Resources Commission
The egg piles can contain thousands of individual eggs.
“Female snails lay eggs as often as once a week, which allows populations to grow and spread rapidly once established,” the NCWRC warned.
The species has already established itself in Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Apple Snails can grow up to 6 inches in size.N.C. Wildllife Resources Commission
North Carolinians are encouraged to report any sightings of the invasive snail to the NCWRC before crushing the egg masses or drowning them in water.
Adult snails should also be crushed or frozen to death.
Everyone is warned, however, not to touch Apple Snails with their bare skin.
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2023-10-04 23:01:00
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