Miami hosts workshop on giant African land snails

MIAMI (AP) -- Residents in Miami can attend a free workshop to help them identify and control an invasive species that is making a permanent home in Florida.

The Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Division is hosting the workshop on Friday at the Miami Science Museum to educate the public on the giant African land snail. A county statement says almost 100,000 of these invasive snails have been captured since September 2011.

Scientists consider these snails to be one of the most damaging snails in the world. The snails consume at least 500 different types of plants and pose a serious health risk to humans. Scientists also say the snails can be devastating to Florida's agriculture and natural areas and can cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)