Austinmer 34°18′S 150°56′E

SLUG!

February 24th, 2012
by Lucas Ihlein

slug

With all the recent wet weather, some fabulous wildlife has emerged in Austinmer. Here above is a monster slug I found on a tree in the yard, with a coin for scale.

There have also been leeches on our front porch, a scenario which is more psychologically challenging than anything else. I’ve not heard it mentioned as a consequence of climate change – but if NSW becomes more tropical, will we also become more leech-infested?

7 Comments »

7 Responses to “SLUG!”

  1. 1 Jo Law
    February 24th, 2012 at 16:20

    Have you taken any photographs of the leeches? I hear that you have a particular interest in these creatures and that your expert knowledge in their biology can sometimes be quite confronting for those who are not fond of these animals.

  2. 2 Lucas Ihlein
    February 24th, 2012 at 16:26

    i’m hardly an expert, but i do find them fascinating.

    unfortunately, a leech sighting is usually accompanied by hysteria, which means photography is forgotten. i’ll try to remember next time…

  3. 3 Louise null Curham
    February 25th, 2012 at 00:54

    We have suddenly got mice in our compost so maybe everything is noting autumn coming, nights cooler here now and extremely heavy dew fall.

  4. 4 Peter Humble
    February 25th, 2012 at 13:27

    Well I’ll swap the leeches, slugs and mice for the rat that found it’s way to my kitchen recently!

  5. 5 Lucas
    March 6th, 2012 at 14:16

    Pete – would that still be a fair swap, if a leech turned up IN THE BATHTUB (while bathing the baby) ??!
    (don’t tell Lizzie).

  6. 6 Jo Law
    March 7th, 2012 at 21:25

    One cheerfully greeted Redmond when he got out of the shower….

  7. 7 Nathan
    March 26th, 2012 at 13:27

    the wildlife here really has a way of making its presence felt here, even when it is not around I find myself in a semi constant state of looking for it