Nanaimo girl creates playground and stadium for pet snails
When Olivia started searching for snails at the start of the pandemic, her mom Sarah wasn’t surprised.
“She just loves collecting insects,” Sarah says. “She’s always been our bug girl!”
But there was something different about the snails, which inspired Olivia to bring them home and name them.
“Steve,” Olivia starts listing their names. “Steve Number Two. Steve Number Three…”
While their names may seem mundane, the world Olivia built for them is anything but.
“I like making them happy,” Olivia says.
Which is why she created a pandemic playground for the snails out of popsicle sticks. Set in a large container, and surrounded by grass, leaves, and snackable flowers, it includes a slide and swing for the slugs to play on.
“The routine of getting to care for them every day was something I think helped us through Covid,” Sarah says.
Olivia’s dad Colin says the snails were the highlight of his Father’s Day celebrations.
“They decided to design some snail Olympics,” Colin smiles, before showing me pictures of a homemade arena. It’s decorated with flags, and surrounded by spinach to motivate the "athletes" to race towards the finish line. There’s even a podium for the top three winners.
“It was great!” Colin smiles.
Thanks to their official fast-motion replay video, it was clear the snail Colin was betting on won.
The hard-shelled hustler even got hardware to take home.
“We made a golden cup that we just filled with [the snail's] favourite food!” Olivia smiles.
When I ask which snail dominated, Sarah answers: “Steve won!” When I ask which specific Steve won, she shakes her head and laughs. “They’re all Steve’s!”
But perhaps the best prize of all was Olivia’s post-competition cuddles.
“I usually put them on my hand,” Olivia says, patting a snail’s shell. “So they know it’s safe.”
They seem to have felt so safe that a pair of Steves started a family of their own. Being with the babies couldn’t have been better for Olivia.
“She’s just a really gentle spirit and heart,” Sarah says, showing me pictures of Olivia holding the baby snails on her fingertips. “She likes to take care of things.”
Colin says that watching his daughter be so creative and responsible with the snails has been inspiring.
“It’s being able to find joy in the little things.” It's a sentiment they celebrate by playing the snails' favourite songs.
“Basically songs by Queen,” Olivia laughs, adding the snails wiggle their heads more when Freddie Mercury sings.
“They’re big fans of Queen,” Colin confirms with a smile.
“It’s probably the vibrations of the music,” Sarah smiles, before laughing. “And we play Queen so often they’re not given a choice!”
But if you watch the snails respond to Queen in the official fast-motion replay video, it seems as though the "Radio Ga-Ga” song really makes these Steve’s go-go on the dance floor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.