One of my favorite maligned creatures is the banana slug.
Most people don’t seem to understand or appreciate banana slugs. They are harmless, and generally do not invade your garden. They’d much rather munch on their favorite mushrooms and decaying matter on the damp forest floor. What else do these guys eat? They also eat animal scat, roots, fruit, carcasses, seeds, bulbs, lichen, algae. As decomposers, they keep the forest floor clean. Imagine if they disappeared the amount of decaying matter that would pile up in the forest!
Several species of slugs live in Washington State, both native and non-natives. But my favorite of all of them is the banana slug. There are actually 5 species of banana slugs. Ours is Ariolimax columbianus and is found in Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. (There are 4 other species in California with spotty locales). Slugs are part of the mollusk family and are related to squid, octopus, mussels, and many others. Slugs evolved from snails, but slugs need moisture whereas snails need calcium and can lock themselves in their shells to avoid drying out.
Fascinating fact: They’re the second longest slug in the world.
Banana slugs can reach 8-inches in length and come in a variety of colors: yellowish-brown, yellowish-brown with black spots, and a greenish-yellow. When you look at their varied coloration and compare it to the forest floor you can see that these are the colors of camouflage.
Fascinating fact: They have four tentacles on the head- the pair with eye spots can sense light changes; the other two are sensory tentacles for smelling and feeling. Amazingly they have a strong sense of smell.
What’s up with the slime aka mucus? Slug slime helps protect the slug from predators. It also provides protection from sharp surfaces when the slug is moving. Slugs are just one big foot that glides along on that slime. The slime also collects matter at the end of the tail which provides protection or a snack. Who eats a slimy slug? ewww. Shrews, snakes, shrew-moles, and predaceous beetles do- keeping the slug population under control.
Fascinating fact: Banana slug slime has been studied as it relates to the mucus production in cystic fibrosis. It helps in understanding what is happening in the dis-ease.
When I worked as a National Park Interpretive Ranger, I lead many walks into the forest of the North Cascades. I spent a lot of time teaching children about ancient forests, wildlife, geology, and other subjects. Whenever we were out walking the trails and I found a banana slug I picked it up which, of course, received many an eewww. Then I would get the kids to touch the slug to see what they feel like. While holding the slug it would often start to move and then the tickling rasping of its 27,000 tiny teeth scraping my finger hoping I was a meal would start. At least I didn’t lick them like one of my colleagues! Apparently, it numbs the tongue which means it numbs the mouth of a predator. I’ll pass, besides it’s not a good idea anyway as they carry a variety of bacteria.
It’s rare that you find banana slugs in urban or even suburban areas as either the non-native slugs have outcompeted them, or their forests full of moist forest duff are no longer present. Their population numbers are decreasing due to this habitat loss and the invasion of all those non-native slugs that eat your garden. So, please don’t dump salt on banana slugs. Just move them back into the forest. Slugs have nerve endings and salt cause intense pain.
If you’re on the west coast and come upon a banana slug in the forest, stop and watch. Pick it up and feel that rasping and look into those eyespots and contemplate this unique species. (But remember to wash your hands and keep them out of your mouth.) Slow down and get to know a banana of a different kind.
Lessons from a banana slug:
Protect yourself by watching your back.
Move slowly to find what you’re looking for.
Keep your skin moist.
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