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What's the Biggest Slug You've Ever Seen?

From the just for fun files, inspired by a close slime encounter in Issaquah, just how big is a big slug?

Ok, I'm not squeamish about slugs, and we did have our share in my old hometown of Spokane. One time, in removing an old wooden deck, my daughter and I found a clutch of clear round eggs that looked like fish eggs. Not knowing what they were, we put them in a jar and sent them to school with her since the class was studying composting and the garden life cycle. Guess what they became?

That's right, slugs. I'm happy to say that true to Patch blogger Laile di Silvestro's advice, we tossed the diminutive slugs into the compost bins so they could happily munch away and do some good.

But I'm also not afraid to admit that the Western version of this terrestrial mollusk and unliked garden pest is more impressive and widespread than it is in semi-arid Eastern Washington.

This month, I've seen a slug making its slimy way down the side of my deck (on the second floor of the building, mind you) and just last evening, I noticed this interesting specimen just outside my door.

With the wet spring, and it being early in the year, I wonder just how big this fella' or gal might get.

Are you like me, taking pictures of the big ones, or measuring the gigantic slugs? Maybe 5 inches--as I suspect this slug is when fully stretched out--isn't so big compared with what you've seen.

If you want more slug control advice, don't miss at The Grange in Issaquah this Saturday, June 16.

In the meantime, please tell us, what's your biggest slug encounter, and while we're at it, what's your favorite method of control? Ducks? Coffee? Eggshells? Something we don't know about yet but need desperately?

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Jeanne Gustafson (Editor) May 17, 2013 at 01:54 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this great event on Patch! What a cool thing to do--as an IssaquahRead More resident, I really appreciate your involvement with EBC.
Photo by Jean Johnson
Susan Gerend May 18, 2013 at 07:58 am
We too, love having our Farmers' Market return! Opening day was a bit weather-challenged. ThankRead More you merchants for enduring the wet and cold for our new extended hours! What a wonderful sight will return to the plaza when the sunshine calls back all the families with happy, giggling children. Market day is a date of dinner out (side) & shopping (vegetables, fruits and now HedgeHog Toffee) with my husband. Doesn't get much better than that! SEE YOUR THERE! Susan Gerend
Margaret Santjer (Editor) May 16, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Thanks for posting that, Jean! I love this time of year when the markets open. Were there a lot ofRead More people for the opening day?
David V May 15, 2013 at 02:49 pm
Thx Kendall, bear news just isn't what it used to be. thinking it has something to do with the komoRead More anchor moving out of our trossachs neighborhood:)
Kendall Watson (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 01:19 pm
Hey, thanks for the bear photos on Friday! Sorry about the slight delay in posting!
Ben H April 14, 2013 at 03:42 am
Agreed Mark, Much as this solution seems crazy, some things are worth paying for (law and order, aRead More decent safety net, good schools and yes roads). I do blame the tax hawks though. Washington already has a relatively regressive tax structure. The "choke the government" solution seems carried way too far.
Question Mark April 12, 2013 at 02:13 pm
I thank the author for his well thought out arguments regarding these important transportationRead More issues in Washington state. While I believe some of the ideas presented are debatable, for example I believe that a vital and well used transit system ought to be part of our congestion relief plan in metropolitan areas, the lack of realistic funding options for this system cannot be ignored. However, our legislature (both parties included) seems to place a higher priority on "no new taxes" than creating a sustainable future for the state in many areas, including the transportation system. More than that, though, we live in a state whose citizens have varied interests and priorities. Most of all, we need our government to set priorities so that citizen interests and needs can be reasonably served. It seems we are pretending that we can base tax policies and tax rates exclusively on individual self-interest, as is often the consequence "no new taxes" scheme (e.g. if I don't get a direct benefit for myself, I won't support paying for it). This seems to me to be as much a part of this problem as current transportation system priorities.
Richard Bray April 9, 2013 at 07:26 pm
It gets worse folks. I was part of a selected focus group a few weeks ago of people who live alongRead More I-405 conducted by a well-known marketing research firm and paid for by WSDOT. They are considering options that would charge commuters to use a new lane on I-405 & charge for the existing carpool lane too (even if you have two people in the car!)