the appropriate use of snail/slug bait

From: "Sean O'Hara" <SAOUC at UCCMVSA.UCOP.EDU> on 1997.06.12 at 23:11:26(835) Fellow growers of 'Mollusk-entrees' Regarding the use of snail/slug baits (soap-box warning!). I have found that the most common abuse of garden poison is in the handling of snail/slug baits. First of all, I find the choice of 'pellets' to be not only the least effective product, but also the most likely to cause problem with animal ingestion. It if far too easy to way too much of the bait with this form, and they are too easily confused visually or otherwise by pets as petfood. The 'flaked' product (whatever the brand) is by far the better choice, but the method of broadcast is very important. Again, gardeners tend to use far too much in one application, thinking that they'll be able to get a more effictive kill (i.e. 'more is better'). It actually takes very little bait to kill these guys. The most effective method is consistent application of very small amounts over a long period of time. Yes, this is not as convenient, but neither is being ineffective or destructive to life forms. My method: In my relatively dry climate, I broadcast the flaked bait after the garden has dried slightly after a rain or overall watering. If the garden is too wet, the bait looses much of its potency. If the garden is too dry, the snails & slugs are safely hiding in wait for more moist conditions. I put a small amount of the flaked bait in a plastic bowl (that I keep for the purpose) and walk to an area of the garden in need of bait. The air should be as windless as possible. I then quickly 'sweep' the bowl in a slightly upward motion from one side to another, sending the bait flying into a dust cload that settles evenly over the area with which I'm concerned (this takes some practice!). This puts very tiny amounts of bait not only on the ground, but also in the foliage canopy where many of my snails spend most of their time. This fine 'dusting' is almost undetectable and certainly goes unnoticed by my own pet cat (who normally chews only on grassy plants which do not hold onto the bait). I do this procedure perhaps once or twice a week and I get good results. If my garden was more isolated from surrounding mollusk infested areas, I know I would eventually gain the upper hand over these critters, but this method excersized during the main mollusk season (spring and early summer) works very well. I also target specific plants for hand baiting (near - not on - this only attracts the snails TO your plant!), again using VERY TINY amounts of bait in successive applications. +More The abuse of snail bait has lead to more resistance strains of snails. This comes from heavy application, which kills most of the snails, but a few always survive. Since most people do not bait successively, these slightly resistant individuals have a chance to recover and multiply before the next 'over-application' of bait. Successive applications remove this opportunity for recovery and therefore help prevent the creation of bait-resistant snails & slugs. Snail bait is perhaps the only poison I use with any regularity. Permanent mulches, soil improvement, and selection of appropriate plant material keeps my garden very healthy and thriving most of the time, eliminating the need for most intervention with toxic substances. Sean A. O'Hara sean.ohara@ucop.edu 710 Jean Street http://www.dla.ucop.edu/sao Oakland, California 94610-1459 h o r t u l u s a p t u s (510) 987-0577 'a garden suited to its purpose' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ask me about the worldwide Mediterannean gardening discussion group

Note: this is a very old post, so no reply function is available.