Instructions
Rise at dawn. Go outside to look for snail tracks on pavement or concrete slabs in the morning. This is the best time of day to see snails, especially if it has been raining at night and you can follow the tracks from source to destination.
Look near small shrubs or vegetables. Green leafy foliage is the staple of the snail's diet and plants like lettuce or spinach will attract snail packs for a feeding frenzy.
Wait for the right weather conditions. Snails prefer damp slightly colder weather, so early mornings when dew falls is a great time to find them. If you live in a hot place with an arid climate, wait until the fall or winter.
Make a small indent in the grass or ground. Put a shallow cup in the hole. Add a small amount of beer to the cup. Snails like beer and you will find a lot of them if you wait and watch. Don't leave it too long, as early morning birds will drive off the snails.
Mark your snail with a colored pen or highlighter so you will know if you encounter it again. This is a useful technique if you want to study snail habits. You can measure the distance and direction that your snail travels as well as what attracts or repels them.
How to Find a Snail
Snails are extremely fickle creatures and ultra sensitive to weather conditions and plant life. While they appear without warning, you can track a snail down if you know which signs to look for.