+Irishal_0 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Hi all, Im looking for eco friendly solution to this slimey problem - my new cache placed less than 7 days ago has become infested with slugs as seen in the photo. It’s placed in the centre of a tree about 2 foot off the ground and then covered in sticks for added cover. There isn’t really any other suitable locations at this site so moving it isn’t really an option. The cache container is a simple bottle top type containing only a log so I’m not sure what’s attracting the slugs. any ideas? 1 Quote Link to comment
geoawareUSA9 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) Looks like adding cover has helped retain moisture there, which attracts the slugs. (Just a guess, I am an attorney, not a slug-ologist.) Might not be a problem year round. Maybe just warn folks to watch out for slugs for now, and see if it is still a problem later on. Edited April 17, 2022 by geoawareUSA9 1 2 Quote Link to comment
+lee737 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 If the container is watertight, it's slug tight, don't worry about it..... 1 Quote Link to comment
+Wacka Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) Were the bottle tops washed really well to remove all traces of sugar? Edited April 17, 2022 by Wacka 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+Lostboy1966 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) I mean, a smiley is a smiley.. Edited April 17, 2022 by Lostboy1966 1 8 Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Irishal_0 said: Hi all, Im looking for eco friendly solution to this slimey problem - my new cache placed less than 7 days ago has become infested with slugs as seen in the photo. It’s placed in the centre of a tree about 2 foot off the ground and then covered in sticks for added cover. There isn’t really any other suitable locations at this site so moving it isn’t really an option. The cache container is a simple bottle top type containing only a log so I’m not sure what’s attracting the slugs. any ideas? Unless it’s intended as a slug nest cache, you could try hanging that thing a little higher on a tree trunk. When the slugs move out, other creepy crawlies will move in. It’s a bug haven. I had a cache that was a mouse home. That is, he moved into the camouflage. I guess it was cosy. Eventually the mouse won, I archived it. Edited April 17, 2022 by kunarion 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+terratin Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Find a new place that is not a slug home? This location in a tree looks like it's generally moist, thus a slug home. Don't do anything about the slugs, but about the cache. 2 Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 We've found multi-trunked trees often remain moist, some even building compost in that nice, flat hidey spot. We had one of our first caches, actual Tupperware, become a science project with all the various molds because of it. It freezes the cache inside a block of ice in Winter too. As others, I'd move it. You say that's not possible. Pick one. If you don't mind "Gross find in slime!" logs, leave it. Quote Link to comment
+TeamRabbitRun Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 You COULD just 'up' the D-factor! Quote Link to comment
+terratin Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Or you could rename it. There's this folk folklore story that slug slime helps against warts. 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 3 hours ago, terratin said: Or you could rename it. There's this folk folklore story that slug slime helps against warts. So it’s a plastic screw cap under sticks in a moist tree crotch infested with slugs, and hunted by Geocachers with warts. It sounds great! What’s the catch? 2 Quote Link to comment
+JL_HSTRE Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 Use a Small container instead of a Micro. That way seekers don't need to reach into the slugs. Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 23 minutes ago, JL_HSTRE said: Use a Small container instead of a Micro. That way seekers don't need to reach into the slugs. Or it provides more surface area for the slugs to really stretch out. There’s a local cache in the crotch of a multi-trunk tree, a small lock-n-lock that lately is found partially submerged in smelly, black mud. But no slugs. Unfortunately. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 2 minutes ago, kunarion said: Or it provides more surface area for the slugs to really stretch out. There’s a local cache in the crotch of a multi-trunk tree, a small lock-n-lock that lately is found partially submerged in smelly, black mud. But no slugs. Unfortunately. Tardigrades like that stuff, the more nutrients dropped in the better. 1 Quote Link to comment
+Wacka Posted April 17, 2022 Share Posted April 17, 2022 At least they are small slugs. Found a cache near Santa Cruz, California that had a large (several CM)banana slug on it. Banana slugs are the mascot of UC Santa Cruz! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment
+Irishal_0 Posted April 17, 2022 Author Share Posted April 17, 2022 Thanks for all the replies…some made me laugh. I plan to make a visit to GZ tomorrow to check out the option of hanging the cache as suggested. Failing that I’ll just up the difficulty level 😃 1 Quote Link to comment
+colleda Posted April 18, 2022 Share Posted April 18, 2022 I agree it's most likely the moisture plus the added cover. Slugs like moist places and the cover aids protection against predators. I found something similar in a park in Colchester. The cache was a micro hidden in a pine cone placed in a shallow hole in trunk of a pine tree. The hole was moist from rain and the pine cone reduced the evaporation that would normally dry out the hole. Lovely, big, green slugs thought it was a slug appartment block. If removing the sticks makes the hide too obvious and you can't find alternative dry spot then you're stuck with the problem. Watch the logs and see how it goes. 2 Quote Link to comment
+4heberts Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 You might try placing something that is a deterrent beneath the cache (like lava rock), but, really, any cacher should not be surprised at what surrounds a cache outdoors. We found this one recently: the cache was found amidst an amazing number of cocoons, obviously seasonal, wish we could have been around to see what emerged! 2 1 Quote Link to comment
+ChriBli Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 1 hour ago, 4heberts said: wish we could have been around to see what emerged! I'm glad I wasn't. 1 Quote Link to comment
+kunarion Posted April 19, 2022 Share Posted April 19, 2022 3 hours ago, 4heberts said: You might try placing something that is a deterrent beneath the cache (like lava rock), but, really, any cacher should not be surprised at what surrounds a cache outdoors. We found this one recently: the cache was found amidst an amazing number of cocoons, obviously seasonal, wish we could have been around to see what emerged! Bagworm moth, a tiny black moth. Those cocoons could make finding the cache more challenging. Quote Link to comment
+fuzziebear3 Posted April 20, 2022 Share Posted April 20, 2022 Bagworms. Those things are awful, and very hard on trees such as cedars. 1 Quote Link to comment
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