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Original poster

Who helps snails

138 replies

Finlesswonder · 03/08/2023 20:58

My garden has loads of snails and I help them along their path. If I see a baby snail wandering along the concrete I teleport it to a plant. Today there was a snail at the very tip of a very long leaf, so it was basically upside down. I could see it stretching it's eyes down as far as it could to try and get down to the ground beneath it, and it was coming so close but couldn't quite make it. I wasn't sure whether it would have the ability to U-turn on such a long fragile leaf, so I pressed down higher up the leaf with my finger so it could finally make contact with the ground and go on its merry way.

Does anyone else do this? I was also wondering whether it does them more harm than good to gently pull them off whatever they're on. And also, if a snail lands on its back, can it right itself?

OP posts:
ThatFraggle · 03/08/2023 20:59

And worms on the path.

Pantsinthewash · 03/08/2023 21:01

Yep, and slugs!

PenCreed · 03/08/2023 21:01

They’re eating my precious seedlings/veg plants. I don’t help them!

Nopenott0day · 03/08/2023 21:03

Yes. I love snails. We even have pet giant African snails. They never seem to have a problem righting them selves if they have fallen off something.

I always tap gently their shell before picking them up so they retract into it. That way you aren't putting stress on their insides.

Catusrusty · 03/08/2023 21:03

Oh yes, I move them off paths etc

I really thought it was just me 😂

Andywarholswig · 03/08/2023 21:04

Snails and worms yes, slugs no because I think they are rude (don’t ask)

NuffSaidSam · 03/08/2023 21:05

Yes, we always move them from the pavement to somewhere a bit safer.

SweetBirdsong · 03/08/2023 21:05

100% yes. Even though they are twats for trying to munch on my sunflowers and yellow marigolds! (Crumbled eggshells puts them off though!) As a pp said, I help worms too if they are at risk of being squished... and caterpillars, beetles, frogs, and anything really...............

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 03/08/2023 21:10

I thought I was in a small minority of people who do this. Glad to hear more do. I also leave a teaspoon of sugar water next to bees that lie exhausted on the path.

I did get rumbled once talking away to a snail. It was early in the morning on my commute and I rescued him from the pavement and was having a little chat with him about which bush looked best and that there was rain forecast for later so he’d like that and some dude I didn’t see was looking at me like I was completely off my head Blush

Time40 · 03/08/2023 21:10

Yes, I help snails. A few weeks ago (when it was hot) I found one at the front of the house where there is hardly any vegetation, and I carried it through the house and put it on a nice leaf at the back ... and since it was so dry and hot, I sprayed the greenery with a mister, so it would have a bit of moisture. At the time I thought, "I can't quite believe I'm doing this." I actually love snails; they're beautiful.

My dad was a keen gardener, and he used to gather them up and drown them in beer - the rotter! I have no idea why beer was his preferred liquid for snail murder.

caringcarer · 03/08/2023 21:11

No I don't have hate slugs and snails.

Bruisername · 03/08/2023 21:11

Yes I help them across the pavement. My kids think I’m nuts.

I do imagine them cursing me for putting them in the wrong place!

Jewelanemone · 03/08/2023 21:12

I always move snails, slugs and worms. I help bees and I've released the odd lobster from unused pots too.

UndercoverCop · 03/08/2023 21:12

My 4 year old does this, I admire him but I hate them. They eat my plants!

IaltagDhubh · 03/08/2023 21:12

The slimy gits eat my dahlias and hostas. I have one dahlia flower out so far on one of the few plants that have survived. When I checked this morning it had two enormous chomps out of the side and a big poo in the middle, which is just rude. I can’t be certain it was a snail but I can’t think what else it could have been. So no, I don’t help them, but I can’t bring myself to harm them either.

SamW98 · 03/08/2023 21:12

Yes I do too. People who pour salt on snails and slugs sicken me

bamboonights · 03/08/2023 21:12

I always help them and feel terrible if I step on one in the dark by accident. No living creature asked to be born and some need a little help along the way.

Mothercareyschickens · 03/08/2023 21:12

Snails eat my vegetables, so I help them over the fence into the neighbours's gardens

Bruisername · 03/08/2023 21:13

We were in holiday when ds was 8 and there were worms all over the hotels tennis court. He spent about half an hour moving them to safety. Not sure he would do that now as a 16yo!

itsmylife7 · 03/08/2023 21:13

I do too.
If I accidentally tread on one I feel awful.

Mia184 · 03/08/2023 21:14

NuffSaidSam · 03/08/2023 21:05

Yes, we always move them from the pavement to somewhere a bit safer.

I do the same.

SamW98 · 03/08/2023 21:15

Bruisername · 03/08/2023 21:13

We were in holiday when ds was 8 and there were worms all over the hotels tennis court. He spent about half an hour moving them to safety. Not sure he would do that now as a 16yo!

My DS is 18 now and I’ve got a photo of him aged 4 holding a giant snail.

Not sure he’d do it now

IaltagDhubh · 03/08/2023 21:16

Jewelanemone · 03/08/2023 21:12

I always move snails, slugs and worms. I help bees and I've released the odd lobster from unused pots too.

I misread that as ‘released the odd lesbian from unused pots’. For a moment I had the most delightful image of wild lesbians frolicking in your garden and occasionally getting stuck on flowerpots! 😆 I need new glasses…

LonginesPrime · 03/08/2023 21:17

I try not to step on them, but I'd be pretty pissed off if I was trying to do something and someone picked me up and put me down somewhere else.

What if they're trying to get to their babies or something? Or that leaf they're edging towards is the big dinner they've been looking forward to all week?

It could trigger some sort of existential crisis in them, like what is all of this even for if the universe just moves us round on a whim? I guess that's no different from humans really, though - someone on Godsnet is probably having the same debate about messing with humans and their trivial lives right now too.

ladyofshertonabbas · 03/08/2023 21:18

I do. Saw a guy on insta who mends their shells with epoxyish stuff. Sweet.

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