Slug Bait....

[Buttercup]

We have an army of slugs and snails in our new yard and I want to wage war on them. However, we also have a cute family of squirrels that live in the Douglas Fir trees right behind our house. They eat peanuts and other goodies we leave for them in the yard.

I know dogs will eat slug bait because our last Border Collie get deathly sick from breaking into a box in the garage and eating a bunch of it. Do you think squirrels eat it too? Anybody know? I'm kind of nervous about spreading it around if they find it tasty.

 

[Noaidi]

DON'T KILL THE SLUGS!!!

Animals have a hard enough time in our urban environments. If you have an army of slugs, then feel privileged that it was your garden they chose as their home!

 

[Erebus]

We had the same problem with slugs and snails in our old house, it seemed that no matter what we did they just kept coming. I would advise you leave them to it and just enjoy the fact that they attract birds and (if you live in the UK) hedgehogs. The hedgehogs made up for the slugs and snails.
Pellets and poisons are messy, can be dangerous to other animals and only ever work temporarily. It's probably better to just let nature balance itself out.

edit: We never had squirrels eat the pellets ourselves, but they're still horrible things in general (the pellets, not the squirrels)

 

[Noaidi]

Shyanekh

Pagans In Slug Solidarity

(just don't use the acronym!)

 

[Erebus]

Shyanekh

Pagans In Slug Solidarity

(just don't use the acronym!)

Haha

 

[Buttercup]

Oh, good grief! A thread full of slug sympathizers. Bunch of weenies!

We live in the Pacific Northwest and get 55 inches of rain spread out over 8 months. We have well guarded jihadist slug training camps in our area. These are some bad *** trained dudes. I am no pacifist when it comes to slugs....sorry to disappoint.

I am concerned with finding an environmental and animal safe way to KILL these guys. But, thanks for the chuckle anyway.

 

[Erebus]

Oh, good grief! A thread full of slug sympathizers. Bunch of weenies!

We live in the Pacific Northwest and get 55 inches of rain spread out over 8 months. We have well guarded jihadist slug training camps in our area. These are some bad *** trained dudes. I am no pacifist when it comes to slugs....sorry to disappoint.

I am concerned with finding an environmental and animal safe way to KILL these guys. But, thanks for the chuckle anyway.

What do you expect from Pagans? The thought of slugs dying makes us cry :sorry1:

If you are determined to exterminate them, pellets are the way to go, just remember that you have to keep topping it up regularly and try to keep pets away from it.
My gran also used to put lines of salt on the edges of her steps which killed a surprising amount of slugs.

 

[Engyo]

Beer. Slugs and snails will congregate at a saucer (jar lid) of beer, and won't survive drinking it. The beer won't hurt mammals (with the exception of hangovers).

To me this is a second choice, but finding natural predators for slugs and snails isn't usually feasible.

 

[Erebus]

Beer. Slugs and snails will congregate at a saucer (jar lid) of beer, and won't survive drinking it. The beer won't hurt mammals (with the exception of hangovers).

To me this is a second choice, but finding natural predators for slugs and snails isn't usually feasible.

We tried that one ourselves and it works a treat, it just has two main problems. The first is that it's absolutely revolting to clean up every day and the second is that it feels abominable to waste beer on slugs

 

[Buttercup]

If you are determined to exterminate them, pellets are the way to go, just remember that you have to keep topping it up regularly and try to keep pets away from it.

I am familiar with this line of defense. That's why I'm hoping for another method.

My gran also used to put lines of salt on the edges of her steps which killed a surprising amount of slugs.

I might try that, thanks!

Beer. Slugs and snails will congregate at a saucer (jar lid) of beer, and won't survive drinking it. The beer won't hurt mammals (with the exception of hangovers).

I've heard of this way of getting rid of slugs but have you tried it to see if it works by chance?

Also, will slugs slurp cheap beer? Have you taken any surveys of slugs in your neighborhood? I'm not experimenting with the good stuff.

 

[Engyo]

It works. The cheapest nastiest beer works fine. I wouldn't use good beer for such a purpose!

 

[Noaidi]

I am concerned with finding an environmental and animal safe way to KILL these guys.

Animal-safe way to kill slugs??? Oxymoron?

Seriously, don't kill them. And certainly don't use salt - what a horrific way to kill an animal.

Come on, Buttercup - leave them be. In the grand scheme of things, is it really that important to be free of slugs in your garden? It's not a matter of being overly sentimental, more a case of being compassionate.

 

[Buttercup]

Animal-safe way to kill slugs??? Oxymoron?

ha! I meant for animals other than slugs, silly.

Seriously, don't kill them. And certainly don't use salt - what a horrific way to kill an animal.

Come on, Buttercup - leave them be. In the grand scheme of things, is it really that important to be free of slugs in your garden? It's not a matter of being overly sentimental, more a case of being compassionate.

Sorry to disappoint. I'm a compassionate woman most definitely but I'm also an avid gardener. I don't hold your belief that it's a bad thing to kill slugs, sorry. I hope we can still be friends. :hug:

 

[lunamoth]

ha! I meant for animals other than slugs, silly.

Sorry to disappoint. I'm a compassionate woman most definitely but I'm also an avid gardener. I don't hold your belief that it's a bad thing to kill slugs, sorry. I hope we can still be friends. :hug:

Hi Roxanne!

Good to see you! :hug:

I have not tried beer and salt, but that is the first thing I would do if I had a slug problem. I would put cheap beer in shallow dishes. The theory is they are attracted to the beer, but once they get in it basically drowns them.

Or you get drunk slugs. Be sure to get video!

Salt definitely kills slugs. The salt lines also sound like a good idea.

Good luck!

Now, how do I keep the deer out of my garden? :rudolph:

 

[Noaidi]

So much talk of animal death here. I think I'll bow out of this thread.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Also, will slugs slurp cheap beer? Have you taken any surveys of slugs in your neighborhood? I'm not experimenting with the good stuff.

PBR seems to work fine. It's sort of like beer...

While I respect slugs as I do any life-form, they tend to eat up my pumpkin plants, so to protect one form of life, I find I need to take another (like much of living).

 

[Buttercup]

Hi Roxanne!

Good to see you! :hug:

Lunessa! I have missed seeing you here! :hug: Have I ever told you that I have a good friend named Roxanne? She'd find it pretty humorous that you call me that. I can't even remember how we got started with that silliness now. All that I remember is that I liked calling you Lunessa the best.

I have not tried beer and salt, but that is the first thing I would do if I had a slug problem. I would put cheap beer in shallow dishes. The theory is they are attracted to the beer, but once they get in it basically drowns them.

Or you get drunk slugs. Be sure to get video!

Beer it is then! I'm putting dishes out tonight. At least they'll go out happy singing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.

Now, how do I keep the deer out of my garden? :rudolph:

Can you fence it? At least a 6ft high fence? Otherwise, have you tried this?
Deer Repellent, Rabbit Repellent - Deer Out

 

[Buttercup]

PBR seems to work fine. It's sort of like beer...

We have two bottles of beer in the fridge we've been avoiding that were given to us as gifts. Can't decide which one to sacrifice for the slug experiment. One is called "Old Speckled Hen" and the other is "Chocolate Stout" Neither one sounds good enough to drink. Chocolate and beer? Bleh!

While I respect slugs as I do any life-form, they tend to eat up my pumpkin plants, so to protect one form of life, I find I need to take another (like much of living).

I love growing pumpkins!

 

[Guitar's Cry]

We have two bottles of beer in the fridge that we've been avoiding that were given to us as gifts. Can't decide which one to sacrifice for the slug experiment. One is called "Old Speckled Hen" and the other is "Chocolate Stout" Neither one sounds good enough to drink. Chocolate and beer? Bleh!

No way! Chocolate stout sounds delicious. I just drank a coffee stout, actually...

I love growing pumpkins!

This is my second time trying. Last year, all the plants got eaten despite my best efforts. This year they seem to be doing better.

Any tips would be appreciated, btw.

 

[Buttercup]

No way! Chocolate stout sounds delicious. I just drank a coffee stout, actually...

Well, we are going to the store in a bit, maybe some PBR is in order. I may have to wear a disguise so no one sees me buying that swill.

This is my second time trying. Last year, all the plants got eaten despite my best efforts. This year they seem to be doing better.

Any tips would be appreciated, btw.

I just read this online....."Other alternatives include surrounding the affected plants with coarse sand, ground eggshells or diatomaecous earth. Slugs do not like to crawl over these jagged materials. They are soft-bodied, and the sharp materials can cut them to death. They must be replenished after rain or heavy dew to be most effective."

Read more: How to stop slugs from eating plants
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