How do land snails survive winter conditions?

To survive winter conditions, land snails enter a state of hibernation. During these periods of cold, they retreat into their shells for protection. To prevent desiccation and shield themselves from the environment, they secrete a membrane known as an epiphragm across the shell aperture. This protective seal is composed of mucus and lime, which can be quite thick in some species.123

While land snails are known to hibernate in cold regions, it is important to distinguish this from estivation, which is a similar state of dormancy induced specifically by the heat and dryness of summer. During both cold and dry spells, these mollusks rely on these specialized dormancy behaviors to maintain their physiological stability until favorable environmental conditions return.42