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(WGNO) – Snails the size of apples continue to infect Louisiana waterways, posing catastrophic and irreversible damages to our ecosystem.

A St. Charles native’s “bright idea” to shine new light on eradicating this invasive species, is gaining support from both the business and scientific worlds.

“I found a giant snail-shell that I’ve never seen in Louisiana before,” says Aaron Hagmann. “And then I found another and another.”

Hagmann noticed a treasure trove of colossal size snail-shells, littered in mass along the same backwater swamps he grew up exploring. “They’re huge. I never saw anything like them.”

His hunch was that something’s off.

“We call it Pomacea maculate,” says Dr. Gary LaFleur Jr. from Nicholls State University, one of the nation’s leading apple snail scientists. “It has invaded into the upper Barataria pretty well. Not quite moved west to Amelia yet, but it’s probably going to happen very soon.”

Dr. LaFleur’s data confirms Hagmann’s unsettling hunch was spot on.

Apple Snails are invading Louisiana.

“It showed up around 2006 in Gretna,” LeFleur explains. “Originates from South America. They probably got here by the aquarium trade. They are increasing in number. The thing that everyone worries about is if they get to the west where the rice fields are.”

Crumbling global marketplaces already at the apples snails’ mercy are scrambling for a solution, “The worst case scenario has been seen in Asian where it’s decimated rice fields. “If you try to poison the apple snail there’s a good chance you are going to poison other snails that are not the invasive species.”

These snails are destroying one of the things I love most,” says Hagmann. “And that’s Louisiana bayous and estuaries. Once I found that out, in good conscience I couldn’t sit back and do nothing.”

Dr. LaFleur credits an unseasonably cold past winter as the only known reason to effectively battle back the Louisiana apple snails.

Until now.

Hagmann now focuses efforts stopping the invasive apple snail by transforming them into scented household decor.

A.K.A. apple snail candles.

Hagmann’s since become known as the Apple Snail Hunter, “I found something that wasn’t supposed to be here. It’s ugly. I killed it and make it look pretty.”

By creating an effortless radiant-glow within the invasive species shell, Apple Snail Hunter candle design is lighting a new pathway to eradication.

He’s hoping the apple snail candles will help spread awareness to fishermen and others who live and work near infected areas.

Like ‘what to do’ encountering pink gum-like apple snail eggs. “It’s simple. When you see them, you kill them.”

Apple Snail Hunter buys wicks and candle wax from Cajun Candles Lafayette.

Then candles are placed in a recycled box with Spanish moss as packing material plucked off Live Oaks.

“I enjoy the bayou. And if I want my children to enjoy it, I better help do something about this snail population.”

Simply Southern in Covington, La. is the first store to sell apple snail candles.

“The bottom line is it’s a neat product,” owner Rebecca Bradford says reassuring the Apple Snail Hunter. “It’s something that nobody else is doing and nobody else thought to do it. And you did.”

Dr. LaFleur ‘s reaction is positive, “Oh yeah man, that’s good, yeah. Can I smell it? It’s cool how you get these different colors. And that makes sense to make something good out of a problem.”

Hagmann/Apple Snail Hunter is hoping his hunch to launch Apple Snail Candle Company is also spot on.

Especially if he maintains his business goal, which is to go out of business.

He says this would mean Louisiana successfully eradicated the apple snail.

Hagmann says he’ll lead the charge, one apple snail candle at a time.

“We can beat them back. Between cold winters and hard work we can knock these out of our system.”

To learn more visit … https://www.facebook.com/AppleSnailCandleCo

Or Call the Apple Snail Hunter at 504-338-0811