With the increase of invasive species in Europe, several countries face increasing challenges in the control of animals that adapt quickly to new environments. After more than a decade trying to control the presence of the so -called Spanish slug, a city from Finland now admits that he cannot win this battle. According to the digital newspaper HuffPost, local authorities confirm that the species has become too resistant and quickly proliferates with the moist climate.
The city of Riihimäki, in southern Finland, has been fighting since 2013 against an invasive species that will have arrived from Spain, the known Arion vulgarislocally nicknamed “Spanish slug”. Since then, efforts to control its spread have intensified, but to no longer lasting.
A battle that looks lost
The species broke into several urban areas, emerging mainly in streets, parks and vacant lots. To stop the advance, the municipality bet on cleaning campaigns, distribution of toxic products to residents, application of poison in green areas and even volunteer actions for manual collection of copies.
However, as explained by Anne Kulhoranta, responsible for sports and community initiatives in Riihimäki, the country’s weather conditions have favored the animal’s spread. “Right now, the situation is really bad. The fresh, humid and rainy mood makes the slugs move like crazy,” he said, quoted by the above -mentioned source.
Experts confirm that it is not possible to eradicate
Despite the involvement of the local authority and the local population, the official admits that the efforts are insufficient. “We have done everything that is possible, but it seems that we are always deleting fires. It is not possible to completely eliminate this species in Finland, due to its high reproduction rate. We are very late in this fight,” he lamented.
The same conclusion is shared by ERJA HUUSELA, the main researcher at Finland’s Institute of Natural Resources, which confirms the strong presence of the species in the country. “Spanish slug is very spread and is abundant in several areas. Always finds shelter in maintenance-free land, empty or vacant lots. It is not possible to eradicate it completely,” he said, quoted by the digital newspaper.
Impacts of the species
A Arion vulgaris It is considered one of the most destructive invasive species in Europe, especially in regions with temperate climate. In addition to ecological impacts, it can cause damage to gardens, gardens and agricultural plantations.
This slug feeds on a wide range of plants and cultures, reducing local biodiversity and hindering the natural regeneration of various native species. In some cases, its presence even requires the application of more aggressive chemical measures, with potential side effects on soils and surrounding ecosystems.
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