h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The slugs are back

There are slugs that patrol my kitchen at night.

I've no idea how they're getting in. There are no trails from the back door, nor from either of the two kitchen windows. The only place remaining is the hole in the wall where the sink outlet passes through. But that would mean that they have to negotiate around the back of the cupboard under the sink-unit, and I'm sure that that is sealed.

Anyway, I stepped on one last night. Fortunately I was wearing socks, so we didn't have a skin on skin contact. Also I recognised what I just stepped on before I put my foot fully down, and so could recoil from it with out the full on squelch experience (though it was terminal for slug none the less).

I'm going to have to start sprinkling salt around the kitchen surfaces again

So why the mention of snails? Well it's to do with my opposing reactions to two species that are to all intents and purposes very similar. Slugs revolt me. I feel sick having to pick them up and flip 'em out the window when I get rid of them. Snails on the other hand, I regard as adventurous souls; chaps who carry their world on their back in their quest to find new things to slide over and investigate and munch at. I really like them. And they taste good with garlic butter

> "I'm going to have to start sprinkling salt around the kitchen surfaces again"

That or become a dalek with a copper-lined floor.

I think they are clinging to your back, and you carry them indoors. Then they stealthily drop off while you're not looking, and hide until night time.

I don't mind either, although hate to stand on both, and the slime is very difficult to wash off. Yuk.

Sometimes I've seen snails at eye level on my back door when I open it at night, is it possible that's happening, and you don't notice them dropping off the door?

That was quickly modded. Anyone you know on pre-mod?

I know what you mean though, I'll murder slugs on sight, but if I tramp over a snail with my giant shoe, I feel slightly guilty...

poor GD ~shudder~

Use slug pellets, much more deadly, and they can't get the birds and cats inside your kitchen can they?

get a pet hedgehog.

but really, slugs and snails in the house? is this common in england or is it just a grey desk thing?

I sometimes find trails near the back door, but this is usually them creeping in while the back door is open for the dogs. I've never actually seen on in the house, so assume they go back out or the dogs eat them.

I thought Mina was going continue 'and puppy dog's tails these are what boys are made of'.

I should have guessed it was the organic garden again though. The slugs do serve some purpose just don't let them get too near your veggies. Use cornflakes or egg shells around your plot and they won't traverse it.

Tch. A2876862 "they have been seen to travel over beds of broken eggshells to find a meal"

We put half empty cans of lager on their sides near our tiger lily that was getting devoured by snails. They died a happy death and disposal was a snap. It might work with slugs as well.

Ah, I see a variant on the lager can was mentioned in that entry above. We didn't notice much collateral damage our way as the cans on their sides prevented other creatures from accidentally falling in.

It may be worth an update if someone has proof they work! Although I still say it's a terrible waste of beer.

It would rather.

Grr regarding the eggshells then.

Beer doesn't survive that long in this house. It gets lined up and shot down real quick.

The Dalek option isn't going to work either - it's five steps down into my kitchen.

Actually come to think of it, the slugs might be reading this as I've not seen one, nor any new trails since writing this. Up to the point where I stepped on one I think I'd flipped about 8 in total back out the window in the previous three days. Maybe that's all there were in the invasion force. But that hasn't stopped me from taking precautions - I now stand on the bottom step and reach round to turn the kitchen light on rather than bound down the steps and slap the switch as I go past it.

Maybe you're bringing eggs in, and they're hatching inside your house?

GD don't rule out the Dalek option haven't you seen the lastest models? They can hover.

Bizarrely, GD, I have the very same problem in my kitchen at the moment. I don't know where they came from - possibly from the rather dank passageway behind the kitchen - but they're great big ugly yellow things. I'm glad to say I've never trodden on one, particularly as I tend to walk around the house barefoot.

I never said we left cans of GOOD beer out. I think we used Miller Lite.

The snails were welcome to it.

You don't need much beer either, just a small dish, and I couldn't believe the ammount that I found in it.



Oh - but cider doesn't work.