Curious case of the snail on the conifer

[loripo]

I have been finding these snails on a row of conifers by a path to the river in SW London. They only appear one side of the path where there is a wall to a car park above. They have appeared from April to October and are always banded snails not the common garden snail. They are not empty shells but appear to be dead and are always near the top of the bush about three feet off the soil. Are the birds putting them there? Any ideas? A friend suggested crampons!

[Wild-Woman]

I would think that there is some type of algae or lichen on the tree bark they eat.Snails can form a seal over the shell mouth called an epiphragm that stops them drying out.

[Hedge Witch]

Like WW, I would suggest they are just sleeping (aestivating). Not a bad place to choose, being sheltered and protected by those needles. Can you have another look on a warm, humid night to see if they have moved? Or maybe next time you go there, you could carefully identify any within reach using a bottle of "Tippex" and observe any changes from visit to visit? If they are dead, there won't be any

[loripo]

Thank you for your response. I hadnt thought of lichens etc. Just wondered how they managed to get up that high!

[loripo]

Thanks Hedge Witch - I'll give that a go and map their positions. Will be very interesting.