I have no idea why I am so fascinated by these things when I encounter them on the forest trails. I am always on the lookout…not for photo opportunities, but rather so I don’t step on them.
They serve a function in this environment and I’d rather not unintentionally kill them.
The banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is the largest slug in North America, reaching lengths of up to 20 cm (8 inches). These terrestrial gastropods are native to the moist, cool forest floors of the Pacific Northwest, stretching from southeastern Alaska to central California. They are known for their yellow color…often dappled with blotchy brown or blackish colourations, leaving them resembling a banana. They are important decomposers in the ecosystem, recycling nutrients and helping to disperse seeds.
I once stepped on a banana slug… barefoot….it squished up between my toes in the most unpleasant fashion imaginable.
And that’s all I want to say about that.
