Worms & slugs

[jaywhybee]

A few weeks ago I took my dog out for his early morning walk and along the path (a concrete farm track through fields of rape) were literally hundreds of dead worms, mainly very small but some up to three or four inches long. The weather overnight had been quite cold, wet with some standing water in the fields. This morning I went out and there were a large number (about a hundred or so) dead slugs on the path, with a few worms and one or two snails. The weather overnight was damp but it wasn't cold and is sunny. These aren't the only instances of me noticing this phenomena, although not in such great numbers previously. Has anyone any ideas as to why it's happening?

[FP]

Could it be the result of some sort of systemic chemical treatment to the rape used to actually kill the slugs and snails?  Just a thought. 

I am sufferent from chronic problems with my nose at present due to the rape planted all around.  Perhaps it has affected the slugs as well!

[Elfin]

Rape is a Brassica (i.e. same family as cabbage etc) and therefore much loved by snails and slugs. I agree that it is likely to be due to pesticides.

There is a huge field of rape only 20m from my window and they have sprayed that fairly recently.  FP, I am having a slight allergic reaction too - it's the first time they've grown rape in that field since I've been here.  It doesn't smell very nice either, does it...

[FP]

I hate it Elfin and it seems to have become the main crop around us.  Everywhere is yellow!

Yes it smells awful, and over the years weed rape has established on all the verges.  This is the first year that I have really been badly affected by it and it is spoiling my walks with the dogs!

Actually, I do not walk my dogs in or along the sides of any fields that have been recently sprayed.  It can make them ill.

[FP]

PS  No wonder our birdlife is being decimated!