Buzz
If you've noticed snails wreaking havoc in your garden, you may be wondering how to apprehend them. Alternatively, you might want to capture snails for the purpose of raising them as backyard companions or for closer examination. You can capture snails in your yard by crafting a wooden trap or by assembling a yeast-based trap. Subsequently, you can extract the snails from the trap and decide whether to keep them alive or dispose of them.
Procedure
Constructing a Wooden Trap
Locate a 12 by 15 inch wooden board. You can fashion a straightforward snail trap using either newly purchased wooden boards or repurposed ones. Aim for wooden boards measuring at least 12 by 15 inches (31 cm by 38 cm).
- If your yard harbors a significant snail population, opt for larger wooden boards to ensnare more snails.
Elevate the board above the ground using 1-inch risers. You'll require 1-inch risers to lift the board slightly off the ground. This facilitates the snails' access underneath the board, where they can become ensnared.
- Ensure the board is uniformly raised with the risers. You may need one riser on each end or beneath all four sides of the board.
- Utilize 1-inch wood pieces or stable objects at least 1-inch tall as risers, such as flat garden pots or plastic pieces.
Position the trap in a moist area of your yard. Situate the wooden trap in sections of your yard where snail activity is prevalent. Snails tend to congregate in moist or damp regions of the yard, such as near a moist garden bed or a water source.
- You might deploy multiple traps dispersed across your yard to increase your chances of capturing as many snails as possible.
Creating a Yeast-Based Trap
Acquire a deep plastic bowl or a plastic bottle. You can fashion a snail trap using a deep plastic bowl with vertical sides. The heightened walls prevent snails from escaping once they've entered the trap.
- Alternatively, utilize a 1-liter plastic bottle for the trap. Cut off the top third of the bottle, which includes the narrow opening, with scissors. Invert the top portion and place it into the bottom portion so the narrow opening faces downward into the bottom. Secure the two pieces together with tape or wire by piercing holes in both pieces.
- The design of the plastic bottle trap prevents snails from escaping once they've entered.
Fill the bowl with beer or a yeast solution. Snails are drawn to fermented yeast and will eagerly venture toward a bowl of beer. Fill your trap halfway with fresh beer to attract snails and entice them into the trap. Any type of fresh beer will suffice, although darker varieties like Stout or Guinness may be more enticing.
- If you lack beer or prefer not to waste good beer, concoct a yeast solution for the trap. Mix two cups of warm water with two tablespoons of flour, one teaspoon of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of yeast. Stir the solution thoroughly and pour it into the trap until it's halfway full.
Position the trap in your garden. After adding beer or yeast solution to the trap, place it in your garden. Bury the trap in a damp area, ensuring the rim is raised 1 inch (2-3 cm) above ground level to catch snails without capturing other insects.
- Beer traps are most effective within a small area, so choose a spot in your garden where snails are abundant or where you've noticed snails before.
- You can partially cover the trap with a stone or a small tarp raised enough for snails to crawl beneath, preventing rainwater dilution and overflow.
Refill the trap daily. Maintain the effectiveness of the yeast trap by replenishing it with fresh beer or yeast solution daily. Old or diluted beer due to rainwater will reduce its effectiveness.
- Liquid in the trap may evaporate after a few days, so top it up with fresh beer or yeast solution daily.
Extracting Snails From the Trap
Extract the snails from the trap. If you aim to keep snails alive, remove them manually from the wooden trap's bottom. Hold them by their shells and gently detach them to avoid contact with their slimy mucus. This ensures safe relocation to another area.
- Remember, snails caught in a beer trap are likely to be dead due to drowning. Consider this before using the trap if you prefer to catch snails alive.
House live snails in an enclosure. Garden snails make excellent pets for children due to their quiet nature, low maintenance, and inexpensive care requirements. Use a glass or plastic enclosure with deep walls and a lid to house your pet snail.
- Snails may retract into their shells when handled, but placing them in an enclosure with substrate and moss encourages them to emerge.
Remove any deceased snails. Dispose of any deceased snails found in your trap to maintain its cleanliness. Use a shovel or garden tool to scrape dead snails off the wooden trap, or crush live ones with your foot. Then, reset the trap to continue capturing more snails.
- If you're using a yeast trap, remove the snails and crush them, then replace the beer or yeast solution and reset the trap to capture more snails.
Helpful Pointers
Necessary Items
Constructing a Wooden Trap
- A 12 by 15 inch wooden board
- Two to four 1-inch runners
Creating a Yeast-Based Trap
- A plastic bowl or a plastic bottle
- Beer or yeast solution
