I Found A Monster Snail!!!!!!

[suziet]

Wow awesome pics - I had never heard of these breed of snail - and also learned not to pick up Roman Snail should I ever see one x

[Brocakat]

Is it that one might hurt them that one shouldn't pick it up?

[The Woodman]

Just for the record the Roman Snail Helix pomatia is included in Schedule 5 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981(as amended).

Is is an offence to kill, injure or sell one under S9(1), possess one under S9 (3) and sell one under S9 (3).

I cannot see the problem with picking one up an active one as long as no injury is involved. An aestivating snail should not be detached from its substrate as damage to the sealing membrane will occur.

Captive bred stock often becomes available on sites like PetSnails.co.uk.

Most of this stock allegedly comes from Europe so escapees could be found.

How do the snail police get round that issue?

[Jim Ford]

I've actually seen a couple with what sounded like a French accent wandering around a site known for its Roman Snails!

Jim