Slug life: B.C. photographer's video of hungry critter seen by millions

Video of 'cute' slug chowing down is a viral hit It's not your typical heartwarming animal video, but a hungry slug on Gabriola Island is capturing the hearts of millions worldwide.

If a snap poll were taken on who the most famous British Columbian is this week, some might be surprised to learn it’s not Seth Rogen or Steve Nash.

In fact, it’s not even a human.

A Gabriola Island photographer’s timelapse video of a banana slug chowing down on a dandelion has caught the attention of millions of people around the world.

Jeanette Martin was cleaning up after her dog in her backyard when she almost scooped up the slimy slug. Instead of reaching for the salt, she grabbed her camera and started rolling.

“I just set my phone up here and I propped it up with a rock,” she said. She let the camera roll for 30 minutes, enough for a 30-second timelapse video.

After posting the video of the sped-up slug to Facebook on June 9, it caught on at warp speed – and has now been viewed more than three-million times, with more than 35,000 shares and counting.

“I just happened upon this munching little slug that’s now become this cute celebrity,” Martin said, laughing.

The slug, which locals have dubbed “Slugette,” has made its way into the limelight, and on Monday the Royal BC Museum called it the most famous British Columbian right now.

Rogen even replied to a post about the slug on Twitter, albeit to correct the museum’s spelling of his last name.

Martin is no stranger to viral videos. In 2015, a photo she snapped of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the Vancouver Pride Parade circulated worldwide.

“That ended up going out on an international scale,” she said. “Out of nowhere this girl just came out of the crowd and jumped right up on top of him.”

But even that photo pales in comparison to the video of Slugette.

“Apparently Justin Trudeau is not quite as popular as our little Gabriola slug,” she said.

Though slugs are a nuisance to some, Martin said the video has taught her a valuable lesson.

“I’d never really stopped to take the time before and it just sort of made me realize that yeah, you need to slow down some times and look at these things,” she said. “You might be fascinated by what you see.”