The yellow, black-spotted banana slug is indeed _Ariolimax columbianus_, a
fine native species in our Northwest forests. The garden-munching
reddish-brown European slug is _Arion ater rufus_, its black, also
introduced, woodland relative is _Arion ater ater_. And Jon, you didn't
tell us who won the races!

I've speculated that gardeners avoid knowing the names of the pests they
try to eradicate, because knowing something's name might make one more
sympathetic toward it.

The local northwestern garter snake (_Thamnophis ordinoides_) eats slugs
with gusto (and maybe taco sauce), as do domestic ducks. I don't know for
sure of other predators that partake of this mucusful repast.

I can't help myself, even though I know it's not bird stuff (although ducks
were mentioned).

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416