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What Are a Snail's Enemies?

Some snails live on land and some live in water, but all snail types have many enemies as they are small and make a good snack or meal for other carnivorous insects and animals. Snails have some defenses against their enemies; the best protection is their shell, as they can hide deep inside, and the hard surface will protect them. The mucus they secrete is also a defense mechanism as it allows them to move on razor shape surfaces, needles and vines that other insects and animals cannot traverse.

Ground Beetles
- Ground beetles will hunt and consume the terrestrial snail.
  
  Ground beetles, or Carabidae, are carnivorous and hunt for snails as a tasty meal. The snail's usual defense against smaller insects, such as ants, is too produce a foamy mucus to stop the insect reaching the snail, but this defense has no effect on the larger ground beetle. Ground beetles are master snail hunters. Where a ground beetle has hunted, large numbers of discarded snail shells will be found. The snail shells are pried opened by the beetle's mandibles and the snail consumed. Snails will only escape a ground beetle attack if they retreat in good time, and even then they may suffer shell damage.
Toads
- Comon toads secrete an irritant from their skin to ward of predators.
  
  The common toad is another snail predator. The toad does not mind eating even large slugs that many other animals find unpalatable because of their slime excretions. The snail's mucus defense here again is unsuccessful. Toads are amphibious animals that can live up to 40 years; it takes them four years just to become adults. Toads hibernate from September or October to the following March. They feed on many insects and snails by catching them with their long sticky tongue.
Hedgehogs
- Hedgehogs are benign animals that will rid the garden of slugs, snails and insects.
  
  Hedgehog are mostly found in Great Britain and Europe; they are brown and gray in color and they have yellow-tipped spines that cover their bodies. The hedgehog's diet is mainly snails, slugs, beetles, earthworms and fallen fruit, and they are considered to be "the gardener's friend." Hedgehogs are attracted to gardens by piles of leaves and twigs that they use to nest in. These nocturnal animals find food at night, and and besides snails, they also enjoy pet food, chopped peanuts and vegetables.
Humans
- Humans are the biggest enemy of the snail.
  
  Humans are one of the snail's most formidable enemies thanks to pesticides. Snails will eat through plants and crops, and therefore they are considered somewhat of a menace in the garden environment. The pesticide metaldehyde is often used as the snail feels compelled to touch this substance. The metaldehyde then makes the snail produce too much mucus or slime, which causes it to dehydrate and die. Unfortunately hedgehogs and birds who eat snails will also be poisoned by this substance.

Insects & Science