News Release

Snail-eradication efforts close Windsor boat ramp on Newnans Lake

April 7, 2008
Contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525

The Windsor boat ramp on Newnans Lake will be closed April 10 and 11 to eradicate island apple snails.

According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, the snails that were missed by treatments late last year have resumed laying eggs as the temperatures get warmer.

“Officials from the St. Johns River Water Management District, FWC and the University of Florida have discussed the current situation and agreed it’s imperative to conduct another treatment before the snail population moves out of the Windsor ramp area,” said Allen Martin, FWC regional freshwater fish biologist. 

This requires closing the Windsor ramp during the treatment. The ramp and canal are scheduled to re-open April 12. 

“We realize that Newnans is a very popular fishing spot right now, and closing the ramp and canal for two days may not be a popular decision,” Martin said. “Although there were no problems with a fish kill during the previous treatment, the possibility does exist. However, these snails must be dealt with before they move to other areas such as Paynes Prairie, Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake.”

These mollusks have huge appetites and can strip large areas of aquatic vegetation in Florida’s waterways. Equipped with both a gill and lung, they may migrate short distances on land. One female can lay a new clutch of approximately 1,000 eggs every 10 to 14 days. The snails can reach reproductive size within six to eight weeks.

“The snails can grow as large as baseballs,” Martin said. “We believe these snails in Newnans Lake were released from aquariums. Their craving for aquatic vegetation is what we’re concerned with. We certainly don’t want to end up with ‘wet deserts’ for our lakes.”

Four nonnative apple snail species have been observed in Florida.

There is one species native to Florida, the Florida apple snail. This snail is a critical food web component in Florida wetlands, contributing to the diets of turtles, fish, alligators and wading birds.

Apple snails are most notably the exclusive food source of the endangered Florida snail kite.
Island apple snail populations have been documented from South Florida to Tallahassee. Large populations have been found near Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. Snails have also been introduced in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii.

The channeled apple snail has been documented in only one site in North Florida.

The spike-topped apple snail is marketed as an aquarium species (“golden apple snail”) and is locally abundant in South Florida.

The Titan apple snail is rare in Florida.

“There is one main thing that Florida residents and visitors can do to help us out with these island apple snails,” Martin said. “Never release snails into the waters of Florida. If you have one in your aquarium, please keep it there.”

For more information on the snails and their eggs, go to MyFWC.com/nonnatives/Docs/FWC_applesnails_FLMS_handout.pdf for photos and additional facts.