After a day of rain, you might have seen some brown or black slugs crawling around your garden or along roadsides. Did you know that they are invasive in the Sea to Sky?
Do We Have Invasive Slugs in the Sea to Sky?
Yes, unfortunately, we do! These slugs are known as Arion slugs (Arion spp.), and range in colour from red, reddish-brown, to black. They have an easily recognizable foot fringe, which is red with black stripes. They have been established in BC since the 1940s and are quite common in the Sea to Sky.
They prefer non-acidic soils, and you might find them in gardens, fields, campgrounds or other disturbed, shaded sites.
Arion slugs are omnivorous and eat fungi, carrion, worms, plant parts and dung. In certain parts of BC, they are threatening sensitive ecosystems because they like to eat plant species that are at risk of extinction, such as the deltoid balsam root and yellow montane violet. You can read more about the Arion slug on the Invasive Species Council of BC’s website.
What should I do if I see an Arion slug?
We don’t have any management strategies for the Arion slug at the moment, but it is always a good practice to record your sightings of any invasive species you spot.
If you come across an Arion slug, consider taking a photo and posting it to iNaturalist.
Check out the current distribution of Arion slugs on iNaturalist, and see user-submitted photos from around the world.
Are there any native slugs species in the Sea to Sky?
Yes! BC is home to the native Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus). It looks like its name suggests, and is often bright yellow with black spots covering its tail. Did you know the Pacific Banana slug is the second largest species of slugs in the world?
It eats and helps to break down dead and decaying matter, and luckily it isn’t commonly found in gardens or crops.
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