The killer snails' progress is uneven so far this year. From the snail's perspective, the season started poorly with a dry May month. Since then, there has been some rain, which is more favorable.
I have spoken to people in different parts of Sweden. Some say that there is a huge difference compared to last year, that they have almost no snails, says Ted von Proschwitz, biologist at the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History.
Others report that they have a lot of killer snails this year. Where it has rained a lot, they are most active. Mälardalen is an example where there seems to be a lot of killer snails, says von Proschwitz.
Heat and sun can make it difficult for the slimy animals. But if it is warm and humid at the same time, they thrive extra well. In northern Sweden, there have been few killer snails, while it has been more mixed in southern Sweden. It will probably not be a new record year like last year.
I do not think it will be a really tough snail year, unless we get very intense rain.
The best way to combat the killer snails is in the spring before they lay eggs. But it is worth combating them even now.
The snails are easiest to kill by cutting or clipping off the head, about half a centimeter from the front end. This can be done with a garden scissors or a spade with a sharp blade.
Another method that results in immediate death is to collect the snails in a container and pour boiling water over them.
The easiest way is to bury the dead snails. It is also possible to put them in a bag in the trash can, but until then, they should preferably be stored in the freezer. It is also possible to compost the snails or let them lie on the lawn.
The snails are nocturnal. Therefore, it is good to collect them late in the evening or early in the morning.
Set up traps for the snails with, for example, boards and plastic bags, where they hide during the day. Put out bait that attracts them. It can be rotten fruit, soaked cat or dog pellets, or dead snails.
Source: Gothenburg Museum of Natural History
