Snails and baby snails: Why are they intelligent, giving, and important?

Snails and baby snails

I've been getting a lot of love from snails this week. Most of them let me pet them and respond positively. One particular Mr. Snail rubbed its body against my finger, signaling that it was enjoying my petting.

I also found a Mr. Snail with its tiny baby. Later, I examined the place where they were lying. I realized that underneath its shell, there were many snail eggs and two baby snails.

I find baby snails to be fearless! Most of them are quick to crawl on my hand, unlike the shy mature snails.

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Research suggests that snails and baby snails play a vital role in our environment. They can decompose organic matter and improve soil health.

Snails and baby snails feed on unusual, decaying plant material. I've seen Mr. Snail eat dried leaves and twigs. Often, I wondered why they were eating decayed foods and thought of them to be unaware of the uselessness of the food in their mouth.

It turns out they were breaking the plant material into smaller particles to release nutrients. Isn't that absolutely marvelous? They were eating unutilized nutrients and releasing nutrients!

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This cycle of decomposing plant material improves soil fertility and benefits the ecosystem. In my opinion, the feeding cycles of snails and baby snails help to maintain an equilibrium in the ecosystem. They eat organic-rich plant matter such as leaves, fruits, and fungi to produce nutrient-rich excreta. The excreta redistributes chemical compounds in the soil which improves exchange between plants and soil organisms. Thus, snails and baby snails have the superpower of modifying habitats through their feeding activity and poop.

Snails and baby snails are referred to as ecosystem engineers. That's an apt reference, as these mollusks can alter soil structure, nutrient availability, and plant composition. So, if your garden has snails and baby snails, you can utilize them as indicators to measure your garden's health.

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The more I learn about snails and baby snails, the more I realize the importance of snails in my life. A year ago, I remember saying hello to Mr. Snail out of sheer curiosity. Now, I spend time with them daily.

Yesterday, I spent about 45 minutes with Mr. Snail and felt like it was the best part of my day.

These tiny yet intelligent creatures are expanding my mind and heart in many ways.

At first glance, they might not come across as charismatic. However, if you're lucky to befriend a snail, you will experience true love and a trust-based connection.

I say that as you would have to trust yourself to befriend a snail, and a snail would have to trust you and itself to befriend a human :).

-Don't be a stranger,

Pranita

Reference:

Mathew M. Snails and Slugs as Silent Witnesses: Exploring the ecological significance of ecosystem engineers and biodiversity indicators . 2024;9(4):137-140.

Montana University. Snails. Agresearch.montana.edu

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