Deadly giant snail found in Houston

NBC News ^ | 6 May 2013 | Andrew Rafferty

[rfreedom4u]

Residents of a Houston neighborhood are being warned to stay away from giant African land snails after a woman found one in her garden and snapped a photo of it.

The snails, researchers warn, are potentially dangerous to touch, in part because they can carry meningitis. Scientists have warned anyone who comes in contact with them to wash their hands thoroughly.

"They also carry a parasitic disease that can cause a lot of harm to humans and sometimes even death," Autumn Smith-Herron, director of the Institute for the Study of Invasive Species at Sam Houston State University, told NBC Houston affiliate KPRC.

A woman gardening in the Briar Forest neighborhood of Houston found the snail and notified workers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center who deal with invasive plants. It is the first reported sighting of the mollusk in Texas, and no one seems to know how it got there.

The giant snails can lay 100 eggs per month, and though only one has been found, it is believed more are in the area.

Jack Fendrick, who lives near where the slimy giant was discovered, said he will do his part to warn of the potentially deadly snails.

"I think most kids especially would look at a big snail and want to touch it," he said. "That's scary."

[Lx]

Did H.R. Giger design her hair?

[biggerten]

Harryhausen did a giant snail-

http://wtf-film.com/site/tag/ray-harryhausen/

[logitech]

“It is the first reported sighting of the mollusk in Texas, and no one seems to know how it got there.”

Kon Tiki?

[exDemMom]

I had a Dr. explain it to me like this...cooking kills the germs, but leaves the toxins behind.

That would depend very much on what the germs are.

Staph, for example, has toxins that are not denatured by heat. But botulin toxin can be destroyed by boiling for 10 minutes.

In general, all meat should be considered potentially pathogenic, and cooked to the recommended internal temperature (usually 165). I think it's probably safe to eat the snail.

I'm a Dr. too. :)

[null and void]

Talkin' 'bout wite and wong...

[Right Wing Assault]

What is an African snail doing in Texas?

Illegal alien.

[exDemMom]

sounds great u can have mine but it reminds me of all those fish dad caught in lake yellowstone that had a worm parasite he said their cooked and that time at my aunts eating a bowl of cereal down to the milk and all those weevils floating and aunt says i microwave them yum and those fried ants my cuz brought back from columbia omg i am laughing so hard and a fly just flew in my mouth...

Um... okay. I really hate bugs. When we lived where weevils are a problem, I would seal everything in plastic bags or tubs, and inspect everything closely before using it. If I cook noodles and find a single weevil, I throw them away.

I won't eat anything with visible parasites, even if they are cooked to death. That's just gross. But if they're microscopic, then there's nothing to see.

[llevrok]

From a Seattle comedy show that was on in the 90’s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSXLl8ipg0w

[Marcella]

I live 40 miles north of Houston and work in my garden. If I see a large snail, I’m not touching it. I’ll call Houston City Hall and they can come get it. If I called my town’s city hall, they would think I’m nuts calling about a snail.

[exDemMom]

I wonder if you were to fry one of those — if they would taste like calamari.

Naw. If they don't taste like escargot, they'll just have the default flavor of chicken.

[max americana]

“What is an African snail doing in Texas? Eco-terrorism?”

The same answer to why we have a Kenyan idiot in the White House and a terrorist, as well.

[Slyfox]

I'd imagine so:

[sickoflibs]

Deadly....LOL

I can see one slugging down the road crushing cars and knocking over buildings.

[Lx]

That’s a mild version of what he is capable of.

[Cyber Liberty]

I always figured it would matter what the germ is. They all poop different chemicals? Didn’t know that about Botulin. I don’t think I’ll be eating one of these things, though. The meningitis thing scares me.

Pardon me...gotta go! Mrs. Liberty made some nice chicken sushi for din din.

[Gator113]

Yuck...

[RedHeeler]

Dang, the D.C. head lice made to Texas. Lordy, Lordy...

[Cyber Liberty]

(~just keep livin~ I drink good wine, listen to good music and dream good dreams.)

But, for the love of all things holy, don't eat giant snails that look like Sheila Jackson Lee!

[MaxMax]

Now that’s a meal. It actually looks very tasty.

[Zhang Fei]

African Land Snail. It's what's for dinner.