Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Snails on Saturday

Cepaea nemoralisThe rain in the middle of the week bought the snails out in the Back 40. Half a dozen were visible from the door for the rest of the week. All are the big ones, Cepaea nemoralis, an introduced species. I’m sure there are others. These two were getting frisky.

More snails: the surprising abundance of snail species in my concrete backyard was one of the inspirations for this blog five years ago. I will be moving in May, to a deluxe apartment in the sky… well, the 4th floor, anyway, of a walk-up, in Sunset Park, and not deluxe by the plutocratic democracy-squelching standards of our second Gilded Age, but… Cepaea nemoralis…home is where the shell is.

mthew

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4 responses to “Snails on Saturday”

  1. John Cooper Writes

    They look cute and interesting, but I don’t have the nerves to touch them 😦

    Reply
  2. Nina Fink

    Hi! I am a science teacher in East Harlem and would love to do a unit on snails with my students. I’m desperate to find some snails. I know this is probably quite a reach, but would you be able to help me find some snails for my classroom?

    Thanks!
    Nina

    Reply
    1. mthew

      You’re lucky it has just rained. They love rain and are more likely to be out and about after it. You may have luck in a backyard with plants/garden, or meadows in Central Park. They also like night best. Note: I’d be leery about letting the kids touch them, since some are carriers of some pretty funky parasites, but that would make a great lesson. Cepaea nemoralis brown-lipped/grove snail the most common type in NYC.

      Reply
      1. Nina

        In the past I’ve had luck in the community gardens up here in Harlem, but even after the rain I haven’t been able to find any. I’ll have to try again next rain storm. Thanks for your reply!

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