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Re: Steve's bugs

Slugs, where present, are an important part of the garter snake's (and
other similar snakes) diet.  I have an overgrown country ditch that is
full of them.  They come out at night and help me with the slugs.  They
stay around the edge of the garden so I always make sure that I only use
slug baits towards the center of the garden.

Steve  (Maritime...)


pitlover wrote:
> 
> At 09:12 AM 3/9/98 -0800, you wrote:
> 
> >> of the garden de-bugging itself, and if it puts on a floor show at the
> >> same time, so much the better.  I have read in the catalogs about various
> >> bugs for sale.  Do they come back every year by themselves, or do you
> >> have to buy new bugs every year?
> >>      Remember, my sig says that I am cheap and lazy,  not good or
> >> knowledgeable.
> >>      I feel that this may be one area that I could really get into.  Of
> >> course my neighbors already think that I am nuts, so sitting out in the
> >> garden, checking out the bugs wouldn't seem inappropriate at all.
> 
> Hi,
> 
> This is based on supposition and a reasonablke knowledge of animal dietary
> habits, not anything scientific.
> 
> When we first moved into our house 2 years ago, we had a horrible problem
> with slugs and snails. They mowed down everything we planted and were all
> over the porch when I left for work in the morning.
> 
> In the process of gathering stones for a stone patio, I left several rock
> piles around the yard. I noticed soon after that the slugs had disappeared
> and the snails were drastically reduced. Later in the summer, I noticed
> several garter snakes living in the rockpiles. Since we don't use pesticides
> I'm guessing/wondering if the garter snakes cleaned up on the slugs and
> snails. I had to lay the stone eventually but built a few new rock piles in
> the corner of the garden.  Can anyone confirm my suspicions or tell I'm out
> in left field about the snakes eating the slugs and snails?
> 
> BTW, I wouldn't try this in AZ, Southern CA, or FL or anywhere else with
> sizable populations of venomous snakes.
> 
> Mike
> Zone 6
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