How to Get Rid of Snails

Snails around the Garden State are familiar creatures whose slow-moving bodies make them hard to miss. There are over 85,000 species of snails, including the slug or snail with no shell. A snail is a mollusk that’s classified as a gastropod. Shell or no shell, getting rid of snails can sometimes be a must for home owners and gardeners alike.

Some of these creatures have shells, while others have a very little protective covering. Since this is such a massive group, each species is unique in its habitat and behaviors. You can find snails anywhere in the world, and this slimy pest becomes active in the warmer months around this region. Snails seem entirely harmless, but are these critters associated with any risks?

Getting Rid Of Snails To Avoid Danger to Humans

Something as small as a slug seems innocent at first glance, but are they completely harmless? Getting rid of snails to avoid dramatically impacting your plants, home, and health. It sounds bizarre, as no one ever talks about being bitten by a snail and having horrible medical problems, but you need to know the capabilities of these critters and what you can do to get rid of them.

Snails are more interested in your garden than you. They may be small, but their appetite is ravenous. They take pleasure in devouring leaves, stems, fruits, and veggies from your plants. Their indiscriminate eating habits can significantly damage your crops and ornamental plants, which should raise your concern and motivate you to take action.

Destructive Not Deadly

Snails leave large holes in the leaves of vegetation that weakens them, and feeding on your plants can stunt their growth or kill them. This is mainly a problem for young seedlings, as they’re vulnerable. Another major problem with snails and slugs is when they leave a slimy trail behind. Slime is more than an inconvenience, as it can cause mold or mildew to grow.

Having any fungus around a plant can cause things like root rot, which is just another way that they can destroy vegetation. Thankfully, the garden slug poses no threat to humans. They’re happy to stay outside, eat, breed, and live their days. However, some species of snails can be deadly to you because of the parasites they carry. This is why it is best to get rid of snails from your gardens.

Snails and Rat Lungworm

For those who enjoy snails or escargots, preparing and cooking them properly is crucial. It’s not just a matter of taste but also health. After handling raw snails, thorough hand washing is a must. The snails must be cooked at the right temperature for a specific amount of time to eliminate parasites.

One such organism is the rat lungworm, which is found in snails that encounter rats or their feces. This emphasizes the need for caution and awareness regarding snail consumption. When snails aren’t prepared correctly, there’s a chance of spreading this parasite to a human.

Even fruits and vegetables can have rat lungworm on them, so all vegetation must be washed for your safety. Consequently, when it comes to snails sliming down your sidewalk, you’re in no real danger. They can’t bite, sting, or make you sick, so they’re more of a nuisance.

To Help You Get Rid Of Snails, Know What Draws Them

Have you ever noticed how some lawns have more snails than others? This is not a random occurrence but a result of certain conditions that they look for in choosing a new home. Understanding these conditions can help you manage snail populations.

The conditions must be ideal, but they will move right in and begin to destroy your plants and other vegetation. Here are the things that will draw snails to your lawn.

1. Moisture

Snails need lots of moisture to survive. Since they have soft, moist bodies, they can quickly lose liquid through evaporation. Staying in high moisture environments helps snails maintain their fluid levels. Finding themselves in an area lacking moisture can cause dehydration, which can be fatal.

Another reason snails need so much moisture is that it aids them in moving. The excessive water in their bodies forms a thick mucus that helps them glide about your lawn. The slime trail left behind is liquid, and without proper hydration, they would be unable to move or protect themselves.

So, if you see an abundance of snails in your yard, you likely have a moisture issue. It can also be an exceptionally wet year with lots of rain that can draw them too.

2. Availability of Food

Food is a significant factor in where they choose to settle. Snails need plant material and prefer a wide variety in their diet. They love flowers, soft and tender leaves, and fruits. So, if you have a lush garden full of such things, it will attract snails.

Nothing excites a snail more than finding a summer garden or a flower bed full of blossoms and leaves. If you fill your yard with any of these things, you can ensure there will be snails. While a couple isn’t a problem, a large quantity can damage expensive plants and be a stressful situation to manage.

3. Shelter

Snails don’t like to come out during the day, as the heat and sunshine can dry them out. Remember, moisture is essential to these delicate creatures, so they need places where they can hide. While they prefer large rocks and piles of debris, it’s not the only thing that can keep them safe.

Even tall grass, a common feature in many gardens, can provide enough security for them during the day. They also seek shelter on the underside of flowerpots or amidst clutter, showing their adaptability to human-made structures. Garden mulch, a common landscaping feature, can also serve as a hiding place.

Snails feed when the sun settles, so you will likely see them active at dusk and during the cool of night. It’s all about moisture, shelter, and food, and if your yard provides these, they will make themselves right at home.

Get Rid Of Snails If They Infest Your Home

When you think of household pests, ants, roaches, termites, and spiders come to mind. Consequently, did you know that snails can also come inside? Under certain conditions, snails can become a pest inside as much as out.

Remember, they need moisture, shelter, and food, and if your home provides more than your lawn, then they have no problem claiming squatter’s rights. If snails do become a problem in your home, it’s likely to happen in the following areas:

Basement
Bathroom
Laundry room
Kitchen

These areas are prone to high humidity and moisture issues. Snails are attracted to such conditions, which are ideal for them. For instance, a mold issue in your basement can create very high moisture levels, providing an easy hiding place for snails during the day.

Indoor plants can keep them fed while inside, and they’re even attracted to dog food. While your pet’s food isn’t their first choice for nourishment, they’re not picky when hungry. The food will provide a nice covering and hiding place, and they can eat until their bellies are full.

If you’re wondering how to get rid of snails that are getting into your house, it’s easy. These critters only need a small entry point. Even a gap in the window or a crack in your foundation wall is enough for them to use their slime powers to slither into your home.

If a snail can make its way inside, so can spiders, roaches, and other critters. So, inspecting your home and sealing any openings welcoming to insects and other pests is essential.

Tips to Get Rid of Snails in Your Garden

1. Remove Attractants

Do you have flowerpots sitting around? You typically have a slug problem because you’re providing the shelter, food, and moisture they need to survive. Flowerpots can provide all three of these things, especially if they have plants with tender leaves inside. Getting rid of flowerpots or elevating them on a stand can help to make them less attractive to slugs.

2. Change Your Vegetation to Something Unfriendly to Snails

While snails like most plants, they certainly don’t like all of them. In fact, they loathe hostas, rosemary, and sage because of their fragrant aroma and taste. Adding less friendly plants around the friendlier ones will act as a barrier that snails won’t cross.

Sage and other herbal plants have a strong aroma that can make breathing difficult, so it’s an excellent way to treat your problem with little effort.

3. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth Around

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to eliminate the snails in your garden, DE is the way to go. DE will get rid of snails and kill any other insects that crawl around this space. This product is made from fossilized remains of diatoms.

Once they’re ground into a fine powder, there are sharp shards that won’t bother you, but they pierce the exoskeleton of most insects and bugs. For the snail, this powder coats their skin and dries it out, causing it to perish.

4. Dispose of Them Yourself

Snails aren’t like roaches, where there are thousands of them, and they’re uncontrollable. Pest control for these little slime balls may be as easy as picking them up and relocating or destroying them. Whenever you see one, put it in a container and take care of it according to your preference.

5. Bring in Natural Predators

Have you always dreamed of a decorative koi pond in your garden? It might be an answer to your snail problem. Frogs are a natural enemy to slugs, so a decorative pond will attract toads and frogs, helping to control your snail issue.

6. Chemical Control

Several products target snails. Finding one that’s all-natural or uses chemicals is relatively easy at a lawn and garden store. Sprinkle this product around the area and let it do its magic.

7. Create a Snail Trap

If you prefer a more DIY method that lets you showcase your skills, you can make a snail trap. One common way to do this is to get a shallow dish and fill it with yeast, water, and beer.

Snails are curious and will be attracted to the moisture in this dish. They will fall in and drown once they’re on the side. This is just one of many traps you can customize for your slug issues.

Tips to Get Rid of Snails in Your Home

1. Reduce Moisture

If you have a snail problem in your home, it’s clear there’s a moisture issue. Finding and eliminating this source of excessive moisture is necessary. Running a dehumidifier can be beneficial if you can’t find anything that stands out as causing the problem.

2. Seal Entry Points

The next step is locating how these critters get into your home. Seal off any gaps around doors or address any cracks in your foundation. The most common place to find slugs is in the basement, so start here to locate their entry points.

3. Remove Attractants

Are you leaving bowls of dog or cat food out overnight? This can be a never-ending supply of food and a place to hide. Try putting the food away when the animals are sleeping to help discourage slugs and other pests.

4. Declutter

Do you have a lot of clutter in your home? Clutter encourages mice, rats, and snails. Any insect or vermin using this as nesting material, or a hiding place can be problematic. So, it’s best to keep things neat so that you don’t attract such critters.

Getting Rid Of Snail Invasions

Snails are commonly associated with outdoor problems, but on rare occasions, they can cause difficulties on the inside. When you have high moisture and accessible food sources, you will have issues with Mother Nature’s creatures.

It’s important to take preventative measures and address any signs of a problem to reduce the number of snails in your vicinity. You can keep these slimy intruders away by utilizing regular maintenance, moisture control, and monitoring the situation. If you’ve tried everything and are still having issues, it’s best to consult with a pest control professional.