People warned to be on the lookout for invasive snails

Havre Daily News staff

MSU Extension Blaine County has issued a warning for people to be on the lookout for the eastern heath snail, an invasive species originally from eastern Europe.

Several sightings of the eastern heath snail have been observed in counties to the south and west of Blaine County. The highly destructive pest travels easily in loads of hay.

The Montana Department of Agriculture first discovered a population of the eastern heath snail in July 2012 near Belt, the first population reported in western North America. Since their initial introduction, satellite populations have bee...