The go-to solution for dealing with slugs is the use of chemical-laden slug pellets. But they are harmful to a range of animals, including birds. This is why organic slug pellets are an option to consider. But, do organic slug pellets kill birds too?
Yes, organic slug pellets are safe to use and will not kill birds.
Many people are switching towards organic slug pellets because they do not wish to harm wildlife, including birds.
Since birds feed on slugs, they can easily get poisoned by getting exposed to the chemicals in regular slug pellets. Since organic slug pellets do not contain chemicals, the birds are safe and will not die.
Are Organic Slug Pellets Safe for Birds?
Organic slug pellets are a great alternative to traditional slug pellets. Organic slug pellets are made from sheep wool. It is recommended to use organic slug pellets to protect birds.
Slugs are prey to many animals, including birds, simply because they are slow and are an easy catch. Slugs are a source of protein for birds. Bigger species of birds tend to feed on slugs.
However, they can inadvertently get killed by consuming them if you have used regular slug pellets. On the other hand, organic slug pellets are safer for you as they do not contain chemicals. These pellets are made from sheep wool, killing slugs while not harming birds.
Apart from being harmed by consuming slugs, birds feed on slug pellets directly. This is especially dangerous due to their small size. However, you will avoid this problem if you use organic slug pellets.
Are Organic Slug Pellets Safe for Other Wildlife?
Other than birds, there are many animals that prey on slugs. Some of the animals include hedgehogs, frogs, and snakes.
Due to the increasing use of chemical-based slug pellets, wildlife is in danger. When people use slug pellets, it can indirectly affect the wildlife feeding on slugs. Moreover, the wildlife can suffer from direct consumption of the pellets.
In addition, the chemical-based slug pellets are made from a certain cereal that attracts animals. This is included in the pellets to attract slugs. However, the downside is that the pellets attract wildlife and cause them immense harm.
Hence, a way to avoid this is to use organic slug pellets.
Organic slug pellets are designed in such a manner that they do not include chemicals that could harm wildlife. It would be best to resort to using organic slug pellets to protect the wildlife.
In recent years, there has been a fall in the population of wildlife that feeds on slugs due to the usage of chemical-based slug pellets. Hence, it becomes important to switch to organic methods to preserve wildlife.
How Do Organic Slug Pellets Work?
Many people question the workings of organic slug pellets. Since chemicals have been used for a long time, people are not comfortable shifting to organic slug pellets.
It will help if you know how organic slug pellets work, so you become comfortable using them. Organic slug pellets available are made from wool. These pellets work to absorb slug slime, which prevents them from moving around.
Since slugs dry out, they will not be able to consume food and eventually die. Moreover, slug pellets also include salt, which works to dehydrate slugs.
What Are Other Benefits of Using Organic Slug Pellets?
Apart from protecting birds and other wildlife, there are other benefits attached to using organic slug pellets. Organic slug pellets are made from sheep wool which can prove to be a better solution to slug problems.
One of the benefits you can derive from using these pellets is that they can hold water. The woollen slug pellets absorb water and hold the weight.
Once you have dispersed the pellets among your plants, they will protect them from overwatering as you do not have to water as frequently.
Moreover, wool slug pellets will also keep your plants healthy by increasing oxygen levels in the soil. Therefore, your plant roots will be deep in the soil without any additives.
Other than working to keep slugs away from your garden, the slug pellets behave like fertilizer for the soil. Slug pellets have a lot of nitrogen which breaks down and release into the soil.
Other than nitrogen, the pellets also include chemicals like calcium, sulfur, magnesium, and iron. You will be saving time and money as you do not have to worry about fertilizers as much.
One of the biggest drawbacks of using chemical slug pellets is that they also harm the environment. By using organic wool slug pellets, you will be doing your part in preserving the environment.
The pellets have no chemicals and are a positive addition to gardens. Wool slug pellets are also safe to use around plants, unlike other dangerous chemicals.
Summary
Maintaining a beautiful garden is no easy job. One of the many problems that gardeners have is pests like slugs. When dealing with slugs, the first course of action becomes using chemical slug pellets. However, these can be harmful to wildlife like birds.
On the other hand, using organic slug pellets like wool pellets poses no threat to birds. These pellets are safe as they do not contain metaldehyde which kills slugs.
Other than birds, there are many predators which feed on slugs. Using organic slug pellets would also mean protecting these animals. In recent years, there has been a decline in the wildlife population, which has been tied to chemical-based slug pellets.
Organic woollen pellets work by absorbing all the slime from slugs causing them to become dehydrated. Using organic slug pellets will keep slugs away and act as fertilizer for the soil. Moreover, you will not have to water the soil as often, so the plants will not be overwatered.
