giant African land snail

The state is moving quickly to destroy the snails before the snails destroy Florida's crops. The snails contain both male and female reproductive organs and lay up to 500 eggs at a time.

Considered one of the most damaging snails in the world, the U.S. has worked spent over a $1 million over decades to eradicate them.

With Oriental fruit flies in Pinellas County and giant African land snails in Pasco County, the greater Tampa Bay region has a couple quarantined zones. But what does that mean exactly and how is it enforced?

The invasive, exotic snails were first found in New Port Richey last month and more than 1,000 have since been captured.

Authorities warn people not to touch the mollusks if one is found. Instead, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture's Division of Plant Industry Helpline at 1-888-397-1517.

Back in 2018, the Florida agriculture commissioner described these types of snails as a "triple threat" because of the potential harm to human health, the environment and agriculture.