Channeled Apple Snails...Plant Assassins !!!
Channeled Apple Snails are listed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as Tier I invasive species in Louisiana. This means they have severe or widespread negative impacts on wildlife and communities in Louisiana !!!
How are they invasive?
• With no natural predators, the snails overpopulate the waterways and eat away at the plant material fish and wildlife depend on for their habitat, negatively impacting biodiversity.• They cause agricultural and ecological damage by devouring aquatic crops such as rice.• They threaten native snail species by outcompeting them for resources
What do they look like?
• Their shells are usually golden yellow to dark brown, with dark banding, and range between 2-4 inches.• They lay their bright pink eggs above water, in clusters of 500-700 eggs. The eggs will appear whitish-pink as they are about to hatch.• Adult females are larger than males. The bottom of the snail is typically brown-grey and oval. They are usually submerged in water.
Where did they come from? Where are they found?
• They are native to South America and have likely become invasive in Louisiana due to aquarium dumping.• In Louisiana, they can be located in freshwater lakes, streams, ponds, rivers, ditches, and marshes.• They usually lay their eggs above near water surfaces like rocks, plants, and bricks.
What can I do?
•DO NOT touch their eggs directly as they may contain neurotoxins. Instead, you can use gloves or some object to scrape/crush the eggs or knock them into the water.• If you see significant amounts of egg clusters call this number 225-765-3977 to report the invasive species to Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries.