Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Native Ecosystems Protection & Management

Rare snail populations across the islands are declining rapidly. We are working diligently to find remnant populations before they are gone forever. However, there is a lot of terrain to cover out there, and we can’t be everywhere. If you have come across a snail while hiking that you think we should know about, please let us know! You may reference our priority species section for photos of the types of snails we are looking to protect.

There are many common, introduced snails that do not need to be reported to SEPP. We are aware of invasives like the giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica), which are often found in yards or other residential areas. SEPP is specifically focused on protecting rare, native snails.

Graphic courtesy of Bishop Museum. Giant African (Lissachatina fulica) snails are often mistaken for native ones but are rather a non-native invasive species. These snails are commonly seen in low elevation and residential areas and do not need to be reported to SEPP. These photos showcase the differences in size and appearance between giant African snails and a SEPP priority species, Achatinella apexfulva.