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Mass Snail-Killing At Gilroy Business Park Prompts County Investigation

GILROY (CBS SF) – At least 1,000 snails have turned up dead at a Gilroy business park, prompting an investigation by the county officials, according to a published report.

The Gilroy Dispatch reported the Santa Clara County Agricultural Commissioner's office is looking into the mysterious deaths of the European brown snails at the McCarthy Business Park on the 6000 block of Cameron Way.

Ag officials told the Dispatch that preliminary indications pointed to pesticide use.

Commissioner Joseph Deviney told the Dispatch he believes landscape maintenance workers are trying to get rid of them. "We'll find out what they used, who used it and to make sure it was a legal and proper application," he told the Dispatch.

The concern over use of snail and slug bait is the risk to snail predators such as birds, snakes and small mammals, along with other wildlife and pets.

"All of the snails' predators can be sickened or killed by snail bait," wildlife expert Joy Joyner told the Dispatch. "This seemingly benign action of 'getting rid of snails' can trickle up the food chain and cause harm to many more species."

Snail and slug baits with metaldehyde or carbaryl are legal but restricted by the Environmental Protection Agency. Organic baits that contain iron phosphate are a safe alternative.

Other techniques to repel snails from plants without killing them include using copper strips and crushed egg shells. Snails can also be lured away from plants with citrus rinds, beer, or dry dog or cat food.

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