Curious, I crouched down for a closer look. They were perfectly round, smooth, and glistening, like miniature pearls scattered in the dirt.

At first, I thought they might be bits of plastic or decorative beads, but they seemed too natural for that. I slipped on gloves and began to dig gently around them. The balls were soft, slightly squishy, almost gelatinous. A shiver ran through me. Eggs, I thought. But what kind—bird, insect, or something worse?

I took a few inside and examined them under the light. Through the translucent shells, I could see faint dark spots. I went online, searching for answers—and my stomach turned when I discovered the truth.

They were snail eggs – snail caviar.