Make a Snail Shelter
They may not be the fastest creatures on the planet, but snails are a fascinating species to study in nature. Did you know that a snail has only one foot? Or that it has no bones? Or that snails prefer to live in cool, dark places?
You can learn more about how snails live by observing them firsthand in a snail shelter. You can learn about their living habits and monitor how they congregate!
How to Make a Snail Shelter
This activity is adapted from HowStuffWorks.
What You'll Need
Instructions
- Soak an unglazed clay flowerpot in water and put it upside-down in the garden-preferably in thick foliage where snails may be present. Prop one side up with a small rock so that snails can get inside. Leave overnight.
- Check the pot the next day to see if snails are inside. They like cool, moist, dark hiding places.
- If the pot has six or more snails, mark each with a small dot of Puffy Paint on the shell (or make a high, recognizable dot using acrylic paint). Look in the pot the next day. How many marked snails returned? Are there new ones?
An example of a finished snail living area
