Every year at this time we see the same thing. I first noticed it when we adopted a greyhound from Wood Green Animal Shelters and found myself walking the local streets at night, which hadn’t previously been something that I did.
It was the noise that alerted me. An intermittent clunk and somewhat fragile-sounding rattle as we made our way towards the nearest grassy area on that warm but somewhat damp May evening. I was puzzled, but as we came into the orbit of a street light, I saw what was happening. A little flotilla of snails was sailing majestically across the tarmac, and every so often, one of the brave little chaps was kicked and sent spinning by the feet of our clumsy great dog who was intent only on the new and exciting scents he was finding out there and didn’t care one way or the other about stray molluscs.
Since then, we notice it every year. There are more on a wet evening, but lack of moisture doesn’t deter them. Every May, the snails embark on some bizarre kind of Snail Pilgrimage, whereby at around nine o’clock each evening they must all travel, en masse, from the shelter of their hedge across the barren and dangerous pavement to the grass beyond.
Other Half and I like to speculate on the reason for this phenomenon. Is this their annual May picnic? Do they say ‘Hey, guys, let’s take our toasting forks and marshmallows and go make a bonfire on the Big Grass!’? Do they dare each other to join in? Do they place bets and ridicule the stragglers? Perhaps they go for a sing-song – or maybe it’s the Snail Council Meeting to decide What To Do This Summer?
But seriously now, why? Does anybody know why do they do this? There is grass the other side of the hedge!!! Why risk dehydration and being used as a football by passing canines? Why risk being trodden on by giants or run over by bicycles? Somebody tell me why!!!
Anyway. They were there again this evening – and that there is the picture. Uncanny, isn’t it?
it is called snail migration. they migrate to reproduce. but thats all I know. good luck in googling!
Dawns last blog post..Evening Grosbeak
I wondered about that, but it’s such an odd location. They’re crossing an asphalt path to a grass verge which isn’t that wide and then there’s a busy road. I’d have thought they’d want somewhere a bit more private!
I’m new to your site and have been following you for the past week! You’re so entertaining and I love the way you put things. I found you on Alan’s blog.
I’m from the States and have never seen snails that big in my city. I couldn’t imagine a)why they would cross b)what it would be like to be riding your bike and hit one! I think something that big would stop a bike in its tracks! So funny…
Penelopes last blog post..What Am I Doing?
okay those things are huge!! i had snails in my fish tank and hated them…they are all gone now. i couldn’t imagine them getting that big and taking over my tank. i’m grossed out Jay.
Naturals last blog post..What’s In Your Wallet?
oh in answer to your question: because snails are not very smart. they curl up in that shell and think that’s protection enough until a big old 18 wheeler comes crushing through….well shucks, even my car could crush them. eeeekkkkkk.
Naturals last blog post..What’s In Your Wallet?
Hi Penelope and welcome! Thank you so much for your lovely comments! I love Alan’s blog, too!
Natural – it is a truly horrible experience to tread on one accidentally. Poor little things crush so easily! But they’re really hard to see under the nasty yellow street lighting that we have these days.
They’re not really that big, I think it must be the angle. They’re probably about an inch and a half to two inches nose to tail. The shell is about an inch on a big one. They’re called Roman snails, and they’re the most common garden variety over here.
Indeed, you were witnessing a snail ‘orgy’, as it were. When the weather is warm and damp, this hermaphrodite species gather in a damp, warm glade, listen to Barry Manilow (you thought it was the wind) and suck on Mai Tais until the mood is right. Then,… well, you can fill in the blank.
For more on this, you can read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snail
Regards,
Daniel
Daniel – Damn, those snails know how to have a good time! And we thought it was toasting forks and marshmallows!