Should I get rid of snails?

[Stokey]

There were lots outside the front of the house this morning.
The dds were fascinated and we just moved them off the footpath onto the hedge.

But should I be killing them? We have planted some veg for the first time in a trough in the back garden and then have a lawn, but have a wild flower/tree wilderness bit at the back.

We've only lived here for 2 years and the first year it was an overgrown mess so didn't really worry.

snails near your veg = bad news as they will eat them. But you say they are in the front and veg in the back, in which case i wouldn't worry unless you have something else in the front you don't want eaten. bear traps or putting them in a bucket and tipping somewhere else are how i deal with them

sorry meant to say beer traps....shouldn't have gulped that wine!!

Phew bear traps sounded full on! Have seen a few in the back but they mainly hang out by the fence.

If you kill the snails what will the birds eat?

Songthrushes and blackbirds eat slugs and snails. Theoretically. I have charming birdsong at 4 am and no slugs and few snails (pelt me with tomatoes then)

I rely on deterring snails from the plants that I really value. Copper tape works really well, so if you put that around your veg trough it may help. It won't stop slugs though because they don't go up the outside. You can buy slug/snail parasite nematodes which you water into the soil, that would be effective in a trough.

I watched in fascination recently as a snail refused to climb up the section of wall where I had stuck the tape. It kept just pulling in its eyes and shrinking back, then it moved along a bit and did the same.

I would just leave the snails alone at the front of the house. Wildlife tends to balance itself anyway - if you get rid of a few snails, the others have more to eat and the numbers will just increase to make up for your inroads!