Slugs have feelings, too

I bet you've never looked at a slug this closely before. Look at that shiny little face. Isn't it adorable? Somehow reminiscent of ET, a wrinkly bloodhound, or the sad old face of a loggerhead turtle. There is something beseeching in those eyes, a 'please don't throw salt on me' appeal. Its lips are parted. Dammit, it's speaking! Now, how could anyone want to squash a cute creature like that?

I read some statistics yesterday. Apparently the wet weather this year has caused the UK slug population to double in size. A rough guesstimate puts it at 60 billion, that's 61 slugs per square metre, all as winsome and slithersome as this one. Let's hear it for the gastropods! Anyone like to join me in starting a slug fan club?