06/01/2026
Snails & salamanders & leeches, oh my! 🐌🦎🪱🦞
Last week in between rainstorms, our seasonal naturalists went out to explore and found that while the trails were empty of human visitors, there was plenty of wildlife enjoying the wet trails! Many of these animals seek shelter in the leaves, underground tunnels, or under logs in the summer to avoid the hot, dry days. But all the wet weather...that's their jam!
Salamander larvae were active at the surface of the water in the vernal pools and leeches and crawfish could be seen enjoying the flowing water on the trails. As they passed the beech trees in our woods, slugs and snails could be seen slowly working their way up the tree. Snails and slugs emerge on wet beech trees after rainfall or in humid conditions because the smooth bark holds moisture and prevents the gastropods from drying out. The wet texture allows their mucous trails to glide effortlessly, helping them forage for fungi, lichen, and decaying organic matter on the wood.
