Banana Slug

I saw this banana slug while we were camping and I watch it carefully as it rushed (as only a slug can) toward a deadly mushroom.

When I say deadly, it would kill a human if ingested but to the slug, it was pure ambrosia.

As it slithered toward the fungi on a slimy trail of goo its antennas were doing double time.

Searching for the delectable smell of rotting mushroom it remained on a fairly straight course towards the forbidden fruit.

I must have watched it for about 15 minutes fascinated by its determination.

Even helping it along the way when a particular big root barred the path.

Until it finally reached its destination and began lunch.

So… why is it that I’m willing to spend that amount of time completely absorbed in watching a slug glide across the forest floor?

And yet… when I find them in my garden its all-out war!

Why it is when I see them in what I consider their natural habitat they are but creatures of the forest.

But when in my garden damaging the seedlings planted with my own hands that I take offence and take action.

I’ve been trying to get the quail interested in eating a few of the slug babies, but they too would rather nibble at the freshly sown seedling.

And the robins only seem to like the worms the garden produces.

What’s a gal to do.

In looking them up I found some pertinent facts about the slugs.

Did you know that the banana slug is the second-largest slug in the world?

And that they are only found on the Pacific coast of North America?

So now I feel bad about trying to exterminate them.

Knowing they only live in a broad swatch along the coast.

I might have to change my tactic to a catch and release program like they do with fish.

Even if I just took them a mile down the road the tender plants in the garden would probably be all grown up by the time they got back. If they ever did.

Something to consider!

Jigsaw Puzzle

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