http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/04/27/bc.giantsnails.ap/index.html

Giant African snails seized from schools
Tuesday, April 27, 2004 Posted: 9:12 AM EDT (1312 GMT)

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- Federal health officials have seized several dangerous pests called Giant African Land Snails from Wisconsin classrooms and have started a national search for the creatures, which reproduce rapidly, destroy plants and can transmit meningitis.

The snails, which are illegal to have in the United States, were used in classrooms by unwitting school officials, said Willie Harris, eastern regional director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Safeguarding, Intervention and Trade Compliance Program.

Snails have been seized in the past month from Wisconsin cities including Big Bend, Menasha and Milwaukee. Officials so far have not found any others elsewhere.

They are concerned the snails, about the size of a person's hand, could be transported to states with warmer climates, where they can rapidly reproduce and destroy plants.

(...more at site...)

(Thanks to JedH!)