Red forest snails return to Norway

Trondheim, Norway -- Norwegian officials said red forest snails that haven't been seen in Norway since the 1800s appear have returned as unwelcome guests.

The newspaper Nationen said thousands of the snails have been found in Selbu, southeast of Trondheim, Aftenposten reported. The snails can cause damage in large numbers, Nationen said.

Oystein Storkersen of the Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management said the snails probably arrived on plants imported by large garden stores. "This is not just about rare snails, but hundreds of insects arrive with every container that enters the country," Storkersen told Nationen.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.