‘I love snails and slugs! I just think they’re fascinating,’ says Jon Ablett, our Curator of Molluscs.
“They’re an important part of our biodiversity that people don’t see, so it’s my job to get them to look around and see the snails and slugs that live nearby,” he says.
The molluscs, which include snails and slugs, are the second largest group of animals in the world, after arthropods. There are 100 different kinds of land snails in the UK, and that doesn’t even count the freshwater snails that live in our lakes and rivers. On top of this, the UK is also home to 46 species of terrestrial slug.
As temperatures drop and winter weather arrives, garden snails seem to mysteriously vanish from yards and gardens Where do these gastropods disappear to when cold conditions strike? Snails have evolved some fascinating strategies to survive frigid winters
Why Snails Can’t Remain Active in Winter
Snails are cold-blooded creatures meaning their body temperature matches their environment. When temperatures fall below around 45°F, snails start to become inactive. Exposure to freezing temperatures can be deadly for snails, as their bodies cannot withstand such cold. Luckily snails have found ways to escape the perils of winter.
Entering Dormancy
The most common way snails survive winter is by entering dormancy, similar to hibernation in mammals. Dormancy allows snails to lower their metabolic rate and essentially shut down until warm weather returns.
Here’s how snails prepare for and enter dormancy
- Stop feeding 2-3 weeks before dormancy to clear their digestive system
- Seal the opening of their shell with a membrane for protection
- Find insulation like leaves, rocks, logs, and burrows
- Cluster together in groups for warmth
- Reduce heartbeat, breathing rate, and metabolism
By entering dormancy, snails can survive for months without food or activity.
Favorite Winter Hideouts
Snails search for protected spots to safely spend the winter dormant. Here are some of their favorite hideaways:
- Underground in burrows
- Beneath rocks, logs, and debris
- Inside crevices and holes
- Under thick piles of leaves
- In compost bins
- Within garden mulch
Any area that offers insulation from cold and predators is prime real estate for dormant snails!
The Ideal Hibernaculum
In addition to protection from the elements, snails need specific conditions in their winter hideout, known as a hibernaculum:
- Stable cool temperature (32-45°F)
- High humidity (>80%)
- Complete darkness
- Freedom from vibrations or disturbance
A stable hibernaculum temperature prevents metabolic wasting of energy through warming and cooling cycles. The right conditions allow snails to remain in dormancy for months.
Snail Species Have Different Winter Adaptations
Interestingly, some snail species have found alternatives to traditional dormancy:
- Tree snails seal themselves high up on tree trunks.
- Marsh snails burrow into mud at the bottom of ponds.
- Desert snails estivate through hot, dry summers instead of winter.
- Tropical snails remain active year-round in warm climates.
The specific survival strategy depends on the species and its native environment.
Benefits of Hibernation for Snails
Entering dormancy provides many key benefits that help snails survive:
- Avoids cold exposure and freezing
- Conserves energy and resources
- Provides protection from predators
- Reduces risk of desiccation or dehydration
- Allows survival if food is scarce
Without the ability to hibernate, snails would likely perish when winter hits.
Ending Dormancy in Spring
Snails sense when conditions become warmer in springtime. Here’s how snails conclude dormancy:
- Detect rising temperatures to “wake up”
- Break down seal over shell opening
- Rehydrate and restore metabolism
- Slowly resume normal activity like feeding
- Migrate back to usual habitats as weather warms
After months of dormancy, snails are ready to thrive once again in the garden when spring arrives!
Finding Hidden Snails
While dormant snails can be difficult to spot, you can locate them by:
- Searching under logs, mulch, rocks, and debris
- Digging gently around known snail hideouts
- Noticing clustered empty shells
- Looking in compost piles and bins
- Disturbing potential sites to prompt movement
Take care not to prematurely wake still-dormant snails before spring warmth returns.
The vanishing act of garden snails is solved! Snails retreat to insulated hideouts and enter energy-saving dormancy to survive freezing winter conditions. With the return of spring, dormant snails revive and resume active snail life once again.
How do slugs and snails sense the world?
Snails and slugs sense the world very differently to us. They can’t hear like we do, but they may be able to sense vibrations with their bodies. In fact, touch is one of the main ways they sense and feel their way through the world.
They also have chemosensors that are a combination of smelling and tasting. Using this sense, snails and slugs can search for food by following trails. To them, the world is a rich mix of chemicals. Â.
This makes up for their limited vision. They can only see differences in light intensity and blurred outlines. Not only do snails have eyes, but they also have light-sensitive cells all over their bodies. These cells are what make them hide in their shells when a shadow falls on them.
Snail and slug slime acts not only as an adhesive but also as a barrier that prevents dehydration. If this wasn’t enough, it also has antibacterial properties that stop infections and help wounds heal. Â.
‘I think snail mucus is really fascinating because it has two properties that are seemingly at odds. It’s sticky, but it’s also a lubricant,’ says Jon.  Â.
This means that snail slime is a non-Newtonian liquid. This means that when you apply slow pressure, it behaves like a liquid, but when you apply fast pressure, it behaves like a solid. Snails and slugs move at a slow speed, which keeps their slime flowing as a lubricant. Â.
Slime is important for snails because it helps them move around, but it may also help them mate because it may contain pheromones that help them find a partner. Some species even produce very bubbly, foamy slime to put off predators such as birds and small mammals.
Youll often find snails clumped together when theyre hibernating. © Stephanie-M/ Shutterstock
The wonderful world of molluscs
Molecular snails and slugs are part of a large group of animals that are thought to have evolved more than 500 million years ago. Â.
Mollusks are animals that live in water. They include snails and slugs, as well as chitons and bivalves like clams, mussels, and oysters, as well as squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. These animals are all cephalopods. Â.
Where do bugs go in winter?
FAQ
Do snails survive the winter?
What is the lifespan of a snail?
Why do I have snails in my yard?
Do slugs hibernate in the winter?
Where do snails sleep in winter?
These snails are looking for a dry, safe spot to sleep for the winter. They often hibernate in clusters, on rocks or under dirt and leaves. In winter, snails go where they will be safe to sleep and stay dry. Garden snails hide under dirt and leaves, or they climb into pots, up on walls, under logs, in tree trunks, under rocks or in rock crevices.
Where do garden snails hide in winter?
Garden snails hide under dirt and leaves, or they climb into pots, up on walls, under logs, in tree trunks, under rocks or in rock crevices. Snails might spend the winter hibernating or sleeping alone, but instinct tells them they have a better chance of survival in a cluster so they tend to gather in groups for winter.
Do garden snails go into hibernation in winter?
Yes, garden snails do go into hibernation during winter. Although they are hardy than most snails, they still need to find refuge to avoid cold. You can find them sleeping under rocks and leaves, in tree hollows, and under logs. We all wonder how come the hordes of snails that invaded our yards in summer disappeared without a clue in the winter.
Do snails survive winter?
Snails might spend the winter hibernating or sleeping alone, but instinct tells them they have a better chance of survival in a cluster so they tend to gather in groups for winter. Studies show that snails have adapted to survive harsh winters.
Where do water snails stay?
They usually stay in the leaf litter, under rocks, anywhere where it will stay cool and relatively dry. Water snails have a door-like structure called an operculum that they use to seal themselves in their shell for protection from desiccation when the habitat temporarily dries out. What about slugs?
Why do snails hibernate?
Hibernation is done to survive the cold but it is also when snails get a deep rest that helps them live a long and healthy life. Hibernating garden snails sleep through the cold and come out of their hiding places when they’re ready and the weather warms up.