Invasive Mollusk SpeciesBrown Garden Snail
Member of the Land Snail (Helicidae) family. Introduced to North America (Maine) as early as 1839, and in the 1850’s a French entrepreneur brought them to California intending to sell them as food. It is one of two species commonly used in French and Spanish (Catalonian) cuisine as escargot.
Eastern Heath Snail
Member of the Leaf Snail (Hygromiidae) family. It was first detected in Michigan in 2001.
Golden Mussel
Member of the Sea Mussel (Mytilidae) family. It was introduced into Argentina in 1991 and within a decade, it had spread to four other South American countries. Its' introduction to North America is unknown.
Quagga and Zebra Mussels
Both Quagga and Zebra mussels are members of the Freshwater Bivalve (Dreissenidae) family. Quagga mussels were introduced to North America in 1989. While zebra mussels were introduced to the Great Lakes in 1988 through ballast water from a transatlantic freighter.
Wrinkled Dune Snail
Member of the Leaf Snail (Hygromiidae) family. Several pathways for invasion exist.