The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming support 35 species of land snails that vary in size, shape, and color. Some of these land snail species exist nowhere else on Earth, and others are considered very rare. They exist in an array of different habitats - from spruce forest to birch stands, and from dense ponderosa pine to meadows.

Land snails are an integral part of the web of life in the Black Hills. They consume organic material on the forest floor and recycle plant and animal waste. Without snails and other invertebrates such as worms, flies, and beetles, plant and animal waste would literally choke the Black Hills. Amphibians, reptiles, birds, and smaller mammals also feed on land snails, forming an important link in the food chain.

Land snails are exceptional indicators of forest health. Analogous to the "canary in the coal mine" concept, where miners would use canaries to monitor air quality, the health of land snail populations provide a window into the overall health of the Black Hills environment.

Land snails have specialized habitat needs, move extremely slow, and are more vulnerable to environmental changes, such as changes in temperature, water or soil chemistry, and weather. Thus, snails are very sensitive to habitat change and respond quickly when their habitats are destroyed or degraded.

An understanding of the health of land snail populations can aid in assessing the effectiveness of ecosystem restoration projects, assessing the status and health of other native plants and animals, and measuring the effects of land management activities. Essentially, land snails can help tell us what's right and what's wrong for the forest.

Many land snails in the Black Hills are at risk and without immediate help, might go extinct. Because protecting land snails ultimately protects forest health, it is crucial that they receive the strongest protection possible to ensure the long-term health of the Black Hills and to prevent their extinction.