I assume you must be referring tp desert tortoises. I don't believe they are legal to own any longer,(at least not here in Calif) unless you have a permit. These animals are gentle, lovely creatures, but owning them is a big responsibility. You can't simply put one in your yard and expect it to take care of your snail problem without giving them special care. Tortoises enjoy many fruits and vegetables, and eat a surprisingly large amount daily, and need a place to hibernate in the wintertime. They will emerge in the spring. They need a very sturdy fence, and are very good at burrowing and are excellent escape artists. Most people, unless they have a special tortoise habitat, will find them to be too much trouble in the average garden. They will trample just about anything that is in their way, plants included. They will pace if kept in too small of a space, and they are little tanks!

There is also no guarantee they won't eat your plants, even if fed well. They can be expensive to keep, considering the cost of fresh produce. I think you would ultimately be disappointed in tortoises as a way to get rid of snails. Box turtles need very specialized care, and are prone to upper respiratory infections, have to be kept warm, etc. So I know for sure those would be too problematic. I don't know how you will deal with your snail problem, but a turtle or tortoise will likely NOT be the answer.

Hello:

Box turtles are native to this area. I found one in my yard recently. I live on a mesa outside of Los Lunas. This turtle was evidently an abandoned pet, because he walked right up to me and did not hiss at me when I picked him up. Cats are not a problem for these turtles, but dogs are.

Box turtles hibernate during cold weather, for up to six months. They need to be able to dig down below 18" to hibernate below the frost line.

As the person above mentions about desert tortoises, box turtles are also escape artists. They can dig out below fences. They are amazingly good diggers. They do like to eat snails. They do need a water supply so that they can hydrate their bodies through submersing themselves in water.

If you purchase a box turtle from a pet store, it will have been captive bred. Therefore, not a wild animal--not used to foraging on its own. Selling native (wild) box turtles is illegal. It is legal to take them in as pets, if you find one. (I checked with Game and Fish about the legalities.)

When I lived in California I removed snails by hand. I watered shortly before dusk. That attracted the snails to come out. Then I removed them by hand.

Lorna

When I lived in Berkeley, CA, where snails are REALLY a problem, I put out dishes of beer at dusk. They love beer and drown in it. A very green --- and effective --- way of getting rid of them!

There are also slug and snail baits that are safe for kids, pets and wildlife.

Sluggo and Worry Free are two brands. Slugs are a major pest here. Beer traps do work too.

Turtles and tortoises are really specialized pets and require much more care than just letting them go in the yard hoping they'll eat snails. They are mainly herbivores and love flowers.

Thanks to all for the advice. There is a turtle organization in ABQ and they recommended a box turtle. I may check it out.

What about beer? Some for you and some for the snails. Good luck, dl

Hello Desertlvr!

I lived in Berkeley for thirty years--moved here from Berkeley. Yes, the snails are horrible in Berkeley! I was the coordinator of the organic community garden in Ohlone Park.

It was a very pleasant surprise to discover that there are no snails or slugs where I am now living. It is too dry for them on this mesa outside of Los Lunas! However, the cottontails ate nearly all of the sunflower transplants I did this year. Oddly, the rabbits did not touch the volunteer sunflowers where they sprouted.