Olympic National Park Off The Beaten Path Tips by Ken_Weaver

Other than Yellow

Most banana slugs are bright yellow as expected for something named after a banana! However, some varieties are white, some black and even some spotted like the one in this picture.

Banana Slugs!

Grab your hotel provided walking stick and go for a walk in the woods and find that largest banana slugs in the North America!. Best time of year is May, June, or October. They range in size up to eight inches long! The slug has two sets of antennae- long ones are for seeing and the short ones are for smelling. The slugs leave a mucus slime trail as they move. You can find them on trees, branches and under logs.

Banana Slugs are a West Coast Creature

The Banana Slug(ariolimax columbianus) lives in the moist forests on the west coast of the United States. It feeds only between the temperatures of 10-16C(50-60F) and eats in 48 hour cycles- Eats for 24 hours, the fasts for 24 hours. Typically eats fallen leaves, lichen and mosses or other organic decaying materials on the forest floor.

Don't Kill them with Salt!

Banana Slugs are scavengers of the forest. The typically eat only decaying organic matter and turn it in to a more usable waste for the forest floor. The practice of putting salt on the slug is "cruel and unusual!" When this happens the fluids in the slug flow to the outer mucus covering of the creature and it just dies of dehydrate as it tries to neutralize the salt. If the slug is in the way, simply scoot it off to the side and it will find a place in indirect light.