Re: echinacea and slugs


*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>david feix wrote:
>> 
>>  I have noticed that
>> since I put down new mulch in one virtually unwatered
>> bed, that the slug numbers have increased explosively,
>> such that I had to bait for the first time. 

Moira Ryan wrote:
>
>So all snail and slug damage in gardens can be traced to imported pests,
>and like most of such they came here without any natural enemies apart
>from a few birds which were brought in also 

I was eating dinner with members of a plant society a month ago in a garden in Oakland with a pond.  Just as the shadows began to creep across the garden, a mallard duck alighted on the pond.  His mate and 8 ducklings soon appeared out of nowhere, and they all began walking slowly through the garden, and with nearly each step each of them gobbled up a snail.  What a wonderful sight.  We almost cheered.  I knew that ducks ate garden snails, but had never seen them in action.  Has anyone purposely used them as a means of snail predation?  I hear they are also inclined to eat small plants.  Turkeys are also reputed to be great snail hunters, and not to eat small plants (and can be then eaten themselves after snail season for - in the USA - the traditional 4th Thursday of November meal.  Anyone tried turkeys for this use?

Richard Starkeson
San Francisco,California
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