Snails are invertebrates and can be found almost everywhere. They live both on land and in the sea and serve as food for a variety of carnivores, from rats and beetles to fish. The list of their natural enemies is quite long, even if they have a protective shell. Which animals eat snails? You will learn this in our article.
Beetles, shrews, fish, snakes, birds and rats eat molluscs. In most cases, retreating into their shell will not save them from a hungry toad or rat. They could be crushed or even swallowed whole.
Use beetles as predators in the garden
Beetles are flightless insects that feed on plants, ants, fruits, snails. Adult beetles lay their eggs near their prey. The beetle larvae do most of the hunting by crawling under trunks and plants to find food. The beetles use their long mouthparts to devour the flesh. Even hibernating animals are not safe from them. The larva uses its jaws and saliva to drill into the shell and nest inside while feeding on the snail. Ground beetles in particular are known for eating molluscs.
Shrews are effective pest hunters
Because of their high metabolic rate, shrews often eat molluscs. They live underground, which also gives them access to various bugs and insects. They also have long trunks with sharp teeth that they use to tear and eat their food. Shrews always help themselves to slimy creatures such as worms and snails. They locate their prey using their sense of smell and touch. They often come to the surface to look for food.
What animals eat snails: Hedgehogs
One of the most common garden animals is the hedgehog. These small mammals are very helpful in destroying pests. If you witha snail problemare faced with, the best solution is to attract hedgehogs to your garden. The hedgehogs ensure that the population is kept in check. The first thing you can do to make your garden attractive to hedgehogs is to remove any hazards that can harm hedgehogs. This includes any pets that attack or want to play with hedgehogs. Cats, for example, may want to play with hedgehogs, but they see them as a danger. Although hedgehogs love to swim, spending too long in the water can kill them. Because if hedgehogs can't find a way out of the water, they simply drift until they get tired and drown. If you have a swimming pool, it is important to create a slope so that the hedgehogs can easily get out of the water if necessary. You can also cover your pool to avoid this situation altogether.
Slowworms are natural enemies of snails
Slowworms prefer habitats with dense plant cover. They are often found in forest clearings, pastures, heaths, bushes, gardens, railway embankments and roadsides. Slowworms feed on a variety of invertebrates, including snails, spiders and earthworms. Although they primarily eat slow-moving prey, their backward-curved teeth are perfect for grabbing fidgety or slippery animals.
Attract birds to the garden as predators
Both domestic and wild birds eat molluscs because they are an important source of calcium for birds. And birds rely on adequate calcium levels to produce high-quality eggs for reproduction. It is common for thrushes, crows, hawks and owls to eat snails. Herons and ducks also like to eat them. Most birds will not eat animals that are too large to swallow. Small birds rely on smaller animals, while larger birds such as owls and hawks can feast on giant snails. Song thrushes are particularly enterprising, hitting large molluscs against rocks to swallow them.
Rats are mollusk predators
As a rule, rats can eat almost anything, whether it is plants, insects or molluscs. Hungry rats can even eat dead animals.Especially garden snailsare at risk of being eaten by mice and rats. In general, rats like to live close to their food source. Black rats, for example, often nest and live near areas with a good supply of food. They have teeth that allow them to crack small shells and eat the remains.
Toads are well-known mollusc eaters
Toads are predators with big appetites. When hungry, they can devour any living animal nearby, including frogs, newts, ants, snails. Since molluscs are naturally slow, they cannot match the quick tongue of a toad or even a frog. Toads swallow the animals along with their shell - their digestive system breaks down the snail and they release the shell. Typically, toads only attack animals their size, not larger adults.
