Invasive pests are destroying Louisiana's most iconic foods, farmers warn
By Anna Wright
Daily Mail
Feb 9, 2026
A slimy pest is plaguing Louisiana - causing utter destruction for crawfish and rice harvesters.
The apple snail, native to South America, is an invasive species that carries a parasite called rat lungworm, which can be fatal to humans and devastating to crops.
Rat lungworm attacks the brain and can cause meningitis. The snails are also known to be carriers of harmful blood and intestinal flukes.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that a blood fluke infection, or schistosomiasis, 'can persist for years' if not properly treated.
If transmitted from snail to human, the parasite can cause severe abdominal pain, an enlarged liver, blood in the stool or urine, and difficulty urinating.
These pests made their way into the US due to 'irresponsible aquarium dumping,' per Louisiana's Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. They're found in freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, and ditches.
Now Louisiana State University scientists estimate about 78 square miles in the state are regularly seeing the slimy creatures, the AP reported.
Crawfish harvester Josh Courville explained how every time he dumps his crawfish trap, about three to four snails topple onto the boat’s metal table.
Apple snails are plaguing crawfish in Louisiana, seriously harming their production. They carry a parasite that can be fatal to humans
Josh Courville, crawfish harvester, sorting out the snails after he dumped the sea creatures from his trap
'It’s very disheartening,' Courville told AP. 'The most discouraging part, actually, is not having much control over it.'
These stubborn creatures are nearly indestructible, and can survive the most intense conditions.
Apple snails can grow as big as a baseball, and they lay thousands of pale pink eggs each month.
Researchers are still trying to grapple with the mysteries of these pests, including why they are spreading so quickly across the country.
They are also studying farming methods, pesticide use, global shipping, and whether climate change may be playing a role.
Rice plants are also affected from these snails, destroying the harvests in an already tough rice market.
'It was like this science fiction movie,' Louisiana farmer Christian Richard said, describing how rice planting time was destroyed by the hungry snails.
'They would start on those tender rice plants, and they destroyed a 100-acre field,' he added.
To protect their crops from apple snails, Richard and other farmers let the rice grow in dry fields first. Once the plants are stronger, they flood the fields.
Farmers have used this method in the past, even without pest pressure, but after the snails arrive it becomes their only viable option.
The stubborn snails lay thousands of pale pink eggs each month, and are extremely hard to get rid of
Apple snails can survive the most intense weather and conditions, leaving them practically indestructible
Courville weening out the snails, the creatures are found in freshwater lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, and ditches
It's nearly impossible to exterminate the snails completely, as some pesticides that will repel the pests can also harm the crawfish.
Because rice and crawfish are eaten directly, farmers have to be careful not to use many chemicals that could end up in people’s food.
Some farmers are testing copper sulfate to rid the snails from crops, but it's pricey and can add thousands of dollars to their total expenses.
This debacle leads to 'lower production, decreased revenue from that, and increased cost with the extra labor,' Richard said.
Extra labor is needed to separate the crawfish from the snails, a process that can take hours.
The snails that are removed are later destroyed, usually by crushing or freezing.
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