Slug Defense

It's raining very lightly here today, and I plan to go slug hunting. I haven't seen many in the past few weeks, but I think they have been hiding, just waiting for cooler, wetter weather. Anyone have Sofer's address?

^_^

11111 Heavens Way
God, MT. 000000

^_^ AGAIN!

I don't think so Sofer...

I feel he lives in all of us. God is the quantum energy that we all posess. It is just he likes to visit here often in a burning bush, the ripple of the waves on Flathead Lake, the sunset on the Rocky MT front, the smell of the fir trees in the breeze, the peace as I wake in the morning to the sun in my garden.........

Yep, you are correct..... He is definitely there ... too.

Why a "he"?

Because that is who I best relate too. Anyone can call their God a her/they/he/it. I build my God off the Judeau-Christian Yahweh. After all I am talking about my God.

Ok - very cool. I love the term Yahweh. When you say it, it makes you speak softly because it is a soft word. Try to shout it - it's a bit awkward. But I still think you need slugs in Montana!

slugs are fun and happy children in the world.
This is Bowman Lake a week ago.

This message was edited Sep 1, 2010 10:12 PM

This message was edited Sep 1, 2010 10:13 PM

Slugs fun?

This message was edited Sep 2, 2010 12:30 PM

This message was edited Sep 2, 2010 12:30 PM

Of course.
This message was edited Sep 1, 2010 10:12 PM

This message was edited Sep 1, 2010 10:13 PM

Lots of editing going on! LOL Sofer, even though I have never met you in person, I can tell you have a kind heart for people, animals, and nature.

Beautiful photo of Bowman Lake.

Our jokes in Montana are attacks in Washington and Oregon. There is enough of that on TV and Radio.

Soferdig said:
"Our jokes in Montana are attacks in Washington and Oregon."

I know what you mean. I can't even type online, what passed for a cheery and friendly "Good Morning" in New Jersey.

It is a relief to know that I'm not the only hip deep in slugs. I guess that is why so many Delphiniums disapeared totally. It wasn't the neighbors Deplhinium-napping!

I use Sluggo and also something containing (I think "metaldehyde"). The nasty chemical is by far more effective. Instead of just "plants kidnapped by aliens", in the morning I see shiny trails leading to dead slugs. We have no dogs in the neighborhood, and cats seem far too smart to lick at the mealy stuff.

In my yard, "hardening off" seedlings means: "feed them to the slugs".

I'm going to try beer traps next. I'll have to buy some Bud for that purpose. I would never be able to share _real_ beer with those little crawly monsters.

Rick Corey
(Everett / Lynnwood WA)

Welcome Rick to the PacNW. Any real beer can be sent to Soferdig 111435 NE.........overnight is preferred.
Yes Rick in Washington when I lived there I (Being a conservative) I often upset many with my jokes. Now they are laughed at here in Montana and where I work in AK. Though our country is balanced rotating every 4 to 8 years in leadership. Now if only we could do that in the Senate.

The bigger issue with metaldehyde is that no matter where you are using it, it will end up in the ground water and eventually in the rivers, lakes, streams, etc. That's a big problem.

Thank you for the welcome.

Almost everything is better in WA than NJ. Beer, coffee, weather, manners, driving manners ...

We even have "Bikini Barristas" where I live now. A friend came to visit from MA, and I took him to one. His eyes got very big, and he was most enthusiastic. Soon he had to switch to decaf, we were such frequent visitors. The next day, I almost stopped at a more sedate coffee hut, and he cried out: "NO!! We can't go THERE! They're fully DRESSED!!"

The only things that were better "Back East" were pizza, bagels and diners.

Corey

>> The bigger issue with metaldehyde is that no matter where you are using it, it will end up in the ground water and eventually in the rivers, lakes, streams, etc.

Arrgh! Why did I assume it decomposed rapidly?
...
Actually I see that it does degrade rapidly, and is mainly dangerous when 4% pellets are actually ingested.
Despite this, we pump SO much junk into groundwater that any additional, cumulative stress is better avoided.
Thanks for pointing that out.

Maybe my perspective is skewed by having worked in the chemical industry when younger, and practically waded in things much much worse (and was shcoked by what they DO get away with dumping into rivers when no inspector is present - we called the Community Relations Director "Gary Lier"). But there;'s a difference between risking you own health for a good salary, and poisoning everyone around you, including those who DO have good sense.

- - - -
http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th11a%287%29.htm

"Effects on aquatic organisms: Metaldehyde is reported to be practically nontoxic to aquatic organisms.
...
Environmental Fate:

Breakdown in soil and groundwater: Metaldehyde is of low persistence in the soil environment, with a half-life on the order of several days. It is weakly sorbed by soil organic matter and clay particles, and is soluble in water. Due to its low persistence, it is not a significant risk to groundwater.

Breakdown in water: Metaldehyde undergoes rapid hydrolysis to acetaldehyde, and should be of low perstistence in the aquatic environment. "

When metaldehyde (or any chemical) breaks down it results in either acid or alkaline bases, and changes the water pH, which then favors certain aquatic organisms, depending on whether it is alkaline or acid. Even though it may be directly non-toxic to organisms, it changes that balance that nature creates. Having said all this, I hate slugs and snails and pray for their demise. I'm sorry I cannot quite my sources, but it is something I learned in order to become a LEED certified architect.

Welcome. I thought they closed the "Bikini Barristas" down in Everett. There was that big thing in the news.

Corey, Welcome! Don't worry about wasting your good beer in beer traps... the slugs go for the cheap stuff and turn their little sluggy noses up at good beer! I am one of the people who still uses bait as that is the only way that certain things will survive in my yard. I try to be as environmentally friendly as possible, but I also love my plants...........

It has been a horrifically bad year for slugs, and am soooooo hoping that next year will be better.

Now is the time they're laying their eggs, so we need to get out there and find them and throw them out! I've had so many slugs this year, it's just ridiculous.

Welcome, Rick or Corey!! You'll find us pretty protective of our groundwater here. The balance of our ecosystem is really indicated by our salmon runs, which haven't been so good in past years. This year was a good one and we're hoping that continues.

Be careful of the bikini baristas in Everett. It turned out that some of the gals were selling dances, etc. rather than coffee and they were arrested and the shops got closed down. Not sure what happened to the customers. But you'll want to make sure you purchase that cup of coffee as well. LOL

I, personally, being the bleeding heart liberal that Steve doesn't like so much, am also pretty bleeding heart about the critters. I'll use Sluggo or beer, but that's about it. I do worry about my cats and dogs even with that. So I don't have the pretty Hostas many do. Slugs are a full time topic in the spring and summer - maintaining your deterrent-of-choice when the rain keeps washing it away is full time work!

Fortunately, the rain and cool temps makes most things grow well, so the plants, given half a chance, will recover. Note that I said, "given half a chance." :-)

Bleeding heart liberals especially you Kathy are my friends. I just need to react to your suppositions. We conservatives just don't fear the opposition. Opposites keep our country balanced. We live in a country where leadership needs to succeed to remain. I hope ours does succeed!

I'm also one of those bleeding heart liberals, but keeping our waters clean and in balance has nothing to do with being liberal or conservative. It's science! LOL

Amen Judi

I was just introducing myself as "bleeding heart" about the critters, which is why I don't like to use chemicals around the yard.

I agree, Judi and Linda, that my softness about critters has nothing to do with ground water. That's not what I was saying . . .

Oh but you softness about critters does have something to do with ground water. Critters and water are all parts of the whole.......

:-)

My environmental perspective is that it's too bad the industrial spoilers don't care at all, and will do serious abuse or slight harm any time whatsoever they can get away with it.

I wish it were practical to focus the "green" infuence that exists into the issues that do the most harm, where we have the most chance of overcoming greed and politcal influence (and people's desire to preserve jobs). It seems to me that the current style of the movement is to make few distinctions among "serious", "minor", "might win" and "Lost cuase". Those who care most tend to fight every issue as hard as they can. But that may be wise: don't give any ground if the other side only responds to actual, big fines and liability suits.

By the way: I also think that those who live where there IS considerable sentiment for protecting the environement (as WA has been since clear-cut forestry went out of fashion) have higher standards and more hope than those (like me) who used to live by a river that was nearly a sewer (Cambridge), or other cities.

A room mate was in medical school, and did his first autopsy. He saw the lungs were DEAD BLACK and assumed his 'patient' had been a smoker. The prof only had to glance. "Nope. Lived and breathed in New Haven. Cars."

- - -

I haven't been to one of the "bikini" coffee places in some months, and haven't read a local newspaper lately either. I've long wondered about two of those coffee huts, one located in the parking lot of a cheap motel, with a manager-type that wandered back and forth between them - and a rather vulgar, salacious sign outside.

But I blush just saying "I'd like a 16-ounce Americano", so I'll never find out what else might be on the menu.

Actually, I've been trying to get up the nerve to go back and ask if I can have their left-over coffee-grounds! At the "fully-clothed" huts I usually go to, they toss the grounds in with garbage before discarding it. I may have to ask for it anyway, and pick through it at home.

Maybe we should take this to a new thread, "Bikinis and coffee grounds".

Corey
(I also answer to "Rick" but prefer "Corey")

Corey -

Many of the coffee shops save their coffee grounds for gardeners, so be sure to check there, too.

Grrr - industrial spoilers is right. I keep trying to cut down on plastics, for instance. But that is easier said than done. And I do take the bus to work, but I value my independence enough that I have to drive. Maintaining a horse and wagon is way beyond me. :-)

I don't like to kill slugs, so I pick them off and toss them to the center of the grass or in the woodsy part of the yard. When I'm picking up after the dogs, I toss them in there, too - that's what they're there for. We grow 'em big here (have you been here through a winter?) and no matter what your slug eradication method - to be successful you'll still end up doing the night stalking and picking them off the plants. :-)

Where are the Bikini places? Lol

Here you go!

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090924/NEWS01/709249864&news01ad=1

And it made the Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/05/washington-clamps-down-on_n_450681.html

How about the beach!

Wow, a lot went on that I didn't know about. As to "being easy to see from the street", this rubber-necker can testify that it ain't so!

it sounds as if the vulgar "extra services" are illegal, not the barely-there cosutmes. Police Sgt. Robert Goetz said:
"“This was about alleged conduct, not about what the women were wearing.
They could have been wearing parkas and if they continued to conduct themselves that way,
we still would have filed the criminal charges.”

Some local business people thought that families were being driven away from the mall ... but no one has said it drives away slugs or snails, so there's no help for us there!

Too bad slugs are not attracted to barista's. We would not have issues with garden pests.