I found something strange in the yard – white, round balls: I was horrified when I realized what it was.

They were snail eggs – snail caviar.

The realization made my skin crawl. I knew snails could multiply alarmingly fast and devastate an entire garden bed overnight. Worse still, certain species—especially tropical ones—carry parasites harmful to humans. That meant these delicate “pearls” weren’t just a curiosity; they were a threat.

I quickly gathered the whole cluster and poured boiling water over them to stop any chance of infestation. Then I cleaned the area thoroughly and inspected the rest of the yard.

Now I know better: even the most harmless-looking objects in the soil can hide a silent army capable of destroying a harvest. Nature is always closer than we think—sometimes, right beneath our feet.