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Snails, Slugs, Hedgehogs etc.
Hi,
Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or discouraged in the garden. Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? Thank you in anticipation, Happppppppppppppppy Everythings, LenBo, Weston-SUPER-Mare |
We don't have hedgehogs where I am (that I know of) in Houston but I believe
they eat bugs mostly. Not sure if they eat plants or not. The only role that I know of for the slug or snail is to munch on the plants and buds you most like. Sluggo is a good remedy for them, although it may take more than one treatment. Sluggo is also pet friendly. Personally I would leave the hedgehog alone and kill off the slugs and snails. Unless I heard right and hedgehogs eat those too. Shell "St. George" St. wrote in message ... Hi, Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or discouraged in the garden. Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? Thank you in anticipation, Happppppppppppppppy Everythings, LenBo, Weston-SUPER-Mare --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.762 / Virus Database: 510 - Release Date: 9/14/2004 |
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St. George wrote:
:: Hi, :: :: Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. :: :: Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or :: discouraged in the garden. Encouraged, they sniff out slugs and snails..their snouts are perfectly shaped to rummage through leaf litter and foilage to get them out. :: :: Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? :: Primarily to eat shoots, leaves and roots, although we have some very large (about the size of a man's thumb)slugs around here which don't seem to bother with plants at all, I've seen them eating discarded food such as sweets, ice cream, chocolates and biscuits etc, even bread and meat (we have a few large families nearby - their kids are forever dropping food in the street) does anyone know what these things are?...they are almost always bright orange but occasionally black. (newsgroups trimmed) |
Mannnnnnny thanks for your interesting and prompt response.
Thanks a bunch. However would prefer not to use pellets as I would not wish anything similar to happen to me. Remember the old West Country (English) saying:- Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other. Happppppy Everythings, LenBo "St. George" St. wrote in message ... Hi, Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or discouraged in the garden. Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? Thank you in anticipation, Happppppppppppppppy Everythings, LenBo, Weston-SUPER-Mare |
St George wrote ".......Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this
N.G. .........." Which one? You are multiple posting. -- David Hill Abacus nurseries www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
David Hill wrote:
:: St George wrote ".......Probably an old Chestnut but am new :: to this N.G. .........." :: :: Which one? :: You are multiple posting. :: As have all others who replied....except one. :-p |
In article uViCr8LlbtmJ-pn2-udOV900dMXzb@poblano, "Stan Goodman"
wrote: A slug is a naked snail. Ha-cha-cha-cha. -- "Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher. "Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature. -from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers" Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com |
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On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 20:03:38 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote: "St. George" St. wrote in message ... Hi, Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or discouraged in the garden. Yes, if there are no dogs in the garden Dog's don't seem to be a problem - I've got two, and plenty of hedgehogs. Admittedly they're small dogs ( terriers ), but the chap just up the lane has four big dogs, and he still has hedgehogs. Dogs seem to be attracted by the smell ( as opposed to the movement..of which there's not usually a lot ), and seem quite happy to sniff, bark and tentatively prod the hedgehog...the latter being something they only do a couple of times before the message sinks in. The hedgehog just rolls itself up and contemplates its navel. Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 19:31:58 +0100, "St. George" St.
wrote: Hi, Probably an old Chestnut but am new to this N.G. Could someone please advise if hedgehogs should be encouraged or discouraged in the garden. Always a safe bet to encourage them - and you can do so by feeding them. A small plate of cat food is ideal, and to prevent other animals from scoffing it, place another plate or a lid of some sort over the food. This tends to dissuade most other animals - but the hog will just barge right in ( and probably thank you for the meal by crapping on the plate... so don't use the Denby ). They're wide-ranging in their foraging habits, so you won't have exclusive use of their services. It can be fun to mark them in some fashion to monitor their foraging habits - use acrylic paint ( from any artist supply shop ) to daub a number on the back of the hog. It's a water based paint, and won't harm the hog. Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? They eat stuff. You can pretty much regard all snails as bad news - but not all slugs are that nasty. Quite a few of them dine on dead matter, particularly the larger ones. From my own experience, the ones to watch are the little black ones with the orange sole...these will burrow through anything en masse. Likewise the small, slimy cream coloured jobby. There are several methods of control, but the two I find most effective are getting out there at night with a torch and picking them off ( this will also give you the chance to observe the hedgehogs at work, and plenty more that goes on in the dark ) - and covered areas ( using tiles or carpet etc ) under which the slugs and snails will crawl to rest. Just lift the covering and pick 'em off. This will also encourage ground beetles and , if you're lucky, slow worms. You might have to spend a week doing this, but it will decimate the population to such an extent that a weekly patrol will probably be adequate. Don't forget to check that you have some sort of flat, hard surface around....for the Thrushes to use as an anvil to smash snail shells. I find they prefer somewhere slightly raised and unobscured by surrounding plants...presumably so they can keep an eye out for predators. Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 19:05:27 GMT, Shell wrote:
The only role that I know of for the slug or snail is to munch on the plants and buds you most like And all the stuff in the compost heap too. Which is good. They also attract other wildlife - like hedgehogs - which also eat other "baddies". -- Tim C. |
In article , Phil L
writes St. George wrote: :: Also what is the role of the snail and slug ? :: Primarily to eat shoots, leaves and roots, also generally clearing up rotting debris and some even eat other slugs although we have some very large (about the size of a man's thumb)slugs around here which don't seem to bother with plants at all, I've seen them eating discarded food such as sweets, ice cream, chocolates and biscuits etc, even bread and meat (we have a few large families nearby - their kids are forever dropping food in the street) does anyone know what these things are?...they are almost always bright orange but occasionally black. Arion ater? -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
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