Another common slug trap uses beer. Pour beer into shallow pans or dishes. Place these dishes in depressions in the garden soil in the evening. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, crawl into it, and die. Some gardeners have had luck repelling slugs with copper strips laid on the soil around the planting.
Diatomaceous earth sprinkled on plants is reported to discourage slug feeding.
Poisoned baits containing methaldehyde or mesurol are effective in reducing slug numbers when scattered in the soil in infested areas. Carefully read the label. Do not use baits in areas accessible to children and pets. Concerned homeowners have brought in many samples of galls on maple and oak. Most galls are caused by the plant's response to the feeding of certain insects, such as wasps, mites, midges, aphids, and others.