Turn the French loose on 'em.
Posted on 04/15/2013 9:46:48 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
South Florida is battling a growing infestation of the giant African land snail.
The snail is considered one of the most destructive invasive species, feeding voraciously on more than 500 plant species.
They can also eat through plaster walls, which provides the calcium content they need for their shells.
Experts recently gathered at a science meeting in Gainesville to seek the best way of eradicating the snails.
According to Denise Feiber, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, more than 1,000 of the snails are being caught each week in Miami-Dade county and 117,000 in total since the first snail was spotted by a homeowner in September 2011.
Residents could soon begin encountering them more often, crunching them underfoot as the snails emerge from underground hibernation at the start of the state's rainy season in seven weeks, Ms Feiber told the Reuters news agency.
She added that the snails attack "pretty much anything that's in their path and green".
In some Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, which are overrun with the creatures, the snails' shells blow out car tyres and turn into projectiles when they encounter lawnmower blades.
In addition, their slime and excrement coat walls and pavement.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Are they edible?
Turn the French loose on 'em.
They look kind of ‘meaty’. Bon appetit!
"Mais, Oui!"
A French chef’s wet dream?
There are few “invasive species” problems that can’t be solved with sufficient butter and garlic.
I love to order snails down in Chinatown! Small black snails in Black Bean Garlic Sauce. Yummmmmmm! Be even better if they were big.
Another reason to be afraid of Florida. That state really gives me the creeps.
THIS BIG ENOUGH FOR YA?...........
We get used to it.......
Recipes for escargot...
Easy Garlic Escargots
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-garlic-escargots/
Escargots à la Bourguignonne
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Escargots-a-la-Bourguignonne-233523
Escargot Appetizers
http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/course/appetizers-snacks/escargot-appetizers/
"Waiter....there are snails on her plate....You would think that in a fancy restaurant at these prices you could keep the snails off the food! There are so many snails there you can't even see the food! Now take those away and bring us those melted cheese sandwich appetizers you talked me out of!"
Does anyone know how they got from Africa to the US in the first place? Can’t imagine they swam here.
Giant snails advance?
Gee. Who could have seen this coming?
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