Finding a snail in your house can be startling, leaving you wondering how it got inside and what to do about it. With their slow, slimy bodies gliding across floors and walls, snails indoors can be seen as unsettling pests.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Snails indoors are generally considered pests and should be removed, as they can damage plants or spread bacteria. But occasionally they enter homes by accident and don’t pose a major threat.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll look at why snails might end up inside, whether they’re harmful or helpful, and tips for getting rid of indoor snails humanely and effectively.
What Attracts Snails Indoors?
Searching for Food and Water
Snails are attracted to homes and buildings when they are looking for sources of food and water (1). As omnivores, snails will eat a wide variety of foods found around houses including fruits, vegetables, fungus, lichens, bark, and even glue or paper (2).
They may come inside through small cracks and crevices searching for tasty morsels in kitchens, basements, gardens, or garbage cans.
During hot, dry weather, snails have a tendency to estivate (become dormant). When rains arrive, snails become active again and search for food and water to rehydrate (3). Home irrigation systems,Leaks, pet water bowls, or damp basements can attract thirsty snails invading from outside.
Access to moisture allows populations to thrive.
Accidental Entry
Snails can accidentally find their way into homes by hitching rides on plants, produce, firewood, and landscaping materials. Eggs and juvenile snails small enough to crawl through cracks and crevices in walls or foundations can also gain access (4).
Being unaware of tiny snail eggs or babies already present, homeowners innocently bring them inside. Dormant snails may awaken once brought into humid, moderate indoor environments. Active snails then begin feeding, laying eggs, and multiplying throughout the home.
Hitchhiking on Plants
Outdoor container plants, especially those kept in shady, moist areas can unknowingly host snail populations. When brought inside, these unwanted guests can then spread throughout the home (5).
Snails and snail eggs may also hitch rides indoors by hiding in crevices of potted plants, bags of soil or mulch, or on transplants from nurseries. Careful inspection of new plant materials before bringing them inside can prevent introducing these indoor invaders.
By understanding what attracts snails and how they gain access, homeowners can take proactive prevention measures. Keeping the perimeter sealed, clearing debris, removing moisture sources, and carefully inspecting new plants can deter snails from taking up residence and becoming unwanted houseguests.
| Authoritative websites referenced: | https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/snails-and-slugs |
| https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/what-attracts-snails-to-your-house/ |
The Potential Risks of Indoor Snails
Eating Houseplants and Gardens
Snails are known for munching on houseplants and garden vegetation (1). With their raspy tongues called radulas, they can devour leaves, stems, flowers, and even fruits and vegetables overnight, leaving behind only the vascular structure. This can be detrimental to prized ornamentals and edibles.
Some of the most susceptible plants are lettuces, brassicas, bean plants, and young seedlings (2).
To prevent snail damage, gardeners often use physical barriers like copper tape, diatomaceous earth, or crushed eggshells around plants. Chemical molluscicides containing metaldehyde or iron phosphate are also employed.
But for indoor plants, manually removing the snails by handpicking them or knocking them into a container of soapy water is likely the safest method.
Spreading Bacteria
Snails and slugs have the potential to transmit bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites through their mucus and feces (3). Some concerning pathogens include E. coli, Salmonella, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Listeria, which can cause gastroenteritis, respiratory illness, and serious systemic infections in humans (4,5).
Babies and young children are especially susceptible if they happen to put a snail in their mouth.
To reduce risks, thoroughly wash hands after handling snails and refrain from snail contact near food prep areas. Disinfect any surfaces slimed by snails. Properly cook all garden produce that may have had snail exposure. Those with weakened immune systems should use extra caution around snails.
Slime Trails and Droppings
The slime trails snails leave behind on floors and walls is not only gross, but can be a slipping hazard, especially for the elderly. The mucus contains proteins that can irritate skin and may cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals (6). It also attracts dirt, creating unsightly marks.
Snail droppings also present problems. The small, dark blob-like feces can stain fabrics, carpets, and hard surfaces. The fecal matter contains bacteria that can spread disease. As the droppings dry out, they create fine particulates that can be accidentally inhaled, potentially leading to lung irritation or infection.
Frequent vacuuming and immediate spot cleaning is advised to deal with slime trails and feces. Gloves should be worn during cleanup. Any textiles with snail excrement should be laundered. Consult a restoration company for removal tips if infestation is high.
Any Benefits to Having Snails Inside?
Eating Other Pests
Believe it or not, having snails inside the house can actually help get rid of other unwanted pests (1). Many species of snails are voracious eaters that will consume mold, fungi, dead plant matter, and decaying organic material.
This means they can help clean up any of these substances around the house. For example, if you have a snail problem in your basement or crawlspace, the snails may actually help clean up mold and mildew.
They can also eat things like dead bugs, skin sheddings from insects, and other organic debris (2). So in some cases, a few snails can actually be beneficial for pest control.
Helping Compost
If you compost at home, adding a few snails to your compost bin or pile can help speed up the composting process. Snails feed on decaying plant matter and break it down with their radulas (teeth-like structures).
According to one study, snail activity in compost resulted in higher nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents compared to snail-free compost (3). The snails also help aerate the compost as they move through it.
Just be sure not to add too many snails, as they could eat plants you add to the compost. A few snails can be great compost helpers!
Pet Snails (Limited Benefits)
Keeping snails as pets is an unusual but increasingly popular hobby. The most common pet snail species are the giant African land snail and garden snail. While they don’t provide many practical benefits like working animals, pet snails can teach children responsibility and allow them to learn about the life cycle and behavior of snails.
Watching snails slowly explore around a terrarium can also have a calming effect for some people. However, snails require specialized care and cannot be handled as much as furry pets. Overall, the benefits of keeping pet snails are quite limited compared to more traditional pets like dogs or cats.
Removing Snails from Your House
Manual Removal and Disposal
Manually removing snails from your house and garden is often the first line of defense. Carefully inspect plants, dark and damp areas where snails like to hide during the day. Use gloves when handling snails as some species can transmit disease.
Place collected snails into a bucket of soapy water which will kill them humanely, or relocate them far away from your property if you prefer a non-lethal option.
Traps
Snail traps can be an effective way to capture and remove numbers of snails without chemicals. Simple DIY traps can be made from plastic containers with small holes, elevated on sticks above the ground. Bait the traps with lettuce or other vegetables snails like.
Traps should be checked daily, with any captured snails disposed of or relocated. More convenient ready-made snail traps are also available to purchase online.
Natural Repellents
There are also various home remedies and natural snail repellents to try keeping the molluscs away from house plants and garden beds. These include materials like crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, diatomaceous earth or copper tape and strips around pots.
These work by creating a gritty or uncomfortable surface for snails to cross. Some plants like geraniums, lavender and mint also deter snails with their strong scent. Just be aware natural remedies may need reapplying after rain.
Blocking Entry Points
Sealing cracks and gaps around your home’s foundation can reduce entry points for snails to sneak inside. Use weatherstripping, copper mesh, steel wool or caulking to fill spaces around pipes, vents, windows and doors. This forces snails to remain outside where other control methods can be focused.
But be aware extremely small gaps can still allow young juvenile snails to squeeze through.
Preventing Future Indoor Snail Invasions
Seal Cracks and Holes
One of the easiest ways for snails to sneak inside is through cracks, crevices, and other small openings around your home’s foundation and walls. Take the time to walk around the exterior of your house and seal up any holes you find with caulk or expandable foam sealant.
Pay special attention to potential entry points around windows, doors, pipes, vents, and utilities. This helps keep snails and other pests outside where they belong.
Use Copper Tape Barrier
Copper is toxic to snails and can repel them from crossing thresholds into your home. Apply a strip of copper tape around the perimeter of exterior doorways, windows, and vents. The tape acts as a barrier that snails won’t cross over. Reapply new tape as needed each season.
Copper sprays are also available to treat exterior surfaces, but tape tends to hold up better against weathering.
Keep Yard Free of Debris
Outdoor snail populations boom when there’s ample shelter and food available. Keep your yard tidy by clearing piles of wood, stones, leaves, compost, and other potential snail hideouts. Prune back overgrown vegetation so snails have fewer cool, damp places to nest.
Removing snail attractions makes the area less hospitable for them.
Inspect Plants Before Bringing Indoors
It’s common for snails and snail eggs to hitchhike indoors on potted outdoor plants. Inspect all plants carefully for signs of snails before bringing them inside. Consider repotting plants into fresh sterile soil to prevent transferring snails.
Quarantining new plants for a few days in an isolated spot outside can help confirm they are pest free. Always check flower pots and trays underneath for lurking snails too.
Snails indoors mean there’s moisture they’re attracted to somewhere in your home. Finding and eliminating sources of moisture removes an essential part of the environment snails need to survive inside. With diligent prevention and monitoring, you can enjoy a snail-free living space all year long.
Conclusion
While the presence of snails indoors is generally seen as a nuisance, they don’t pose any serious dangers in most cases. As long as you take steps to remove and exclude snails humanely, while also keeping your home and yard free of debris, you can coexist peacefully with these shelled crawlers in the outdoor environment.
With a better understanding of what attracts snails inside and how to deter them, you can now keep your living space free of these slimy intruders. Just remember to be kind if an occasional snail slips through – guide it gently back outside rather than reaching for the salt!
