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Thread: Snakes!!!

  1. #1
    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Snakes!!!

    Most of you know I am buiding a house this year. Well, the land is very woodsy, very quiet, lots of trees and stuff, but there are snakes. I've never lived somewhere where I've had to be worried about snakes. I'm talking about rattlesnakes. My parents say there's no way to keep them away, other than keeping dogs around.
    Is there anything I can start thinking about as far as what to keep around the house/yard to keep snakes and other wildlife away from my house? When I move I'm going to be soooo paranoid about snakes and spiders and other creepy things- ewwww!

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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    http://www.google.com/search?source=...=Google+Search

    Never encountered rattlesnakes, but dealt with my fair share of snakes. Keep the yard clean of high grass and debris. Remember removing rocks or stuff and seeing snakes underneath. Keep a shovel handy. The articles mention fences, fences that go a little underground, keeping rats and other food away. Sometimes you see the peeled skins and you know you have snakes.



    And hey apparently it's not a big problem
    <i> In the United States, humans experience about 8000 bites from venomous snakes each year. Of those, an average of 12 per year, less than 1%, result in death. </i>

  3. #3
    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    Well it might not be a problem statistically, but my parents (who own the land) have come across snakes multiple times. One snapped at my dad and he almost got bit...thank God he was on a golf cart.
    I found alot on google about what to do if you find one or get bit, but I didn't find many tips (other than the fence) about how to keep them away, like repellents or something.I don't know, just anything.
    I did find something saying king snakes kill rattlesnakes. Maybe I should go buy a few of those, fence in my yard, and let the snakes wonder around and live in my yard. Are kingsnakes dangerous to people?

  4. #4
    cameron_keys
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    Please, please, please...dont keep dogs around outside where you know there are rattlers. It's just cruel to put them in danger like that.

    If you google rattlesnake control and population management...you'll get a ton of sites offering ideas.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    ^please dont put Kingsnakes out. First off, a captive-bred Kingsnake is going to be at a loss of what to do when set free. It'd be like buying a golden retriever from a pet store, and setting it loose in the woods to fend of wolves. Also, the Kingsnake is extremely territorial, you cant even keep it in a cage with another snake, so it would very likely just figh tyour othe rkingsnakes.

    No, kingsnakes, technically are not dangerous to people, meaning they dont have a poisionous venom. But get a bite from a decent sized kingsnake, you will be in some pain. I also would be careful, if you have pets, to let them out at all, rattlesnake or kingsnakes will strike.

    For the most part, your fear of rattlesnake is unfounded. They're generally very shy, and dont bite unless you disturb them. That said, take care to make your hard as unpleasant for a rattlesnake as possible...this means making it unpleasant for food (i.e. mice). Keep your lawn cut short, little brush area, I personally wouldnt keep a shed or mulch beds. Putting down rat poison (again, if you have pets, avoid this) taht would get rid of mice, and therefore the snakes will go elsewhere.

    There is no repellant or substance to shoo away rattlesnakes.

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    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    ^^^ What kandie kitten said.



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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    have you considered putting stone walls deeply embedded. and instead of grass put down more cement. try to avoid putting plants that snake can climb up over the fence with. maybe instead of grass or dirt put Astroturf? avoid putting thing down that creates holes or dark places for snakies to hide.




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    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    Thanks for the advice. Like I said, I've never really had to deal with living in this kind of environment.
    The thing is, I wanted to make my own little garden in my yard (I was real excited about actually being able to do that )and I wanted to have alot of plants around and everything- not a good idea?

    Edit: I think it's weird that they have repellents for everything except snakes! They even have spray for your furniture to keep cats off, but they don't have any snake poisen! Figures!

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    God/dess pookie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    if u want plants hang the on the wall where snakies cant get.

    or u could have a little green house with enclosed doors. =)




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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    If you have a garden/plants, you might as well hang a sign that says "snakes welcome". Gardens are excellent food dources for rodents, and where there are rodents, there are snakes.

    Even a fence wont keep them out. Snakes are excellent climbers, especially if you have trees in your area.

    And the lack of repellants is because snakes dont respond to things other creatures do. Mammals, like rats, and insects (ants) can live off of vegetables, sugars, carcasses, so poisons, with their strong smell, can attract them and trick them into ingesting it. Seeing as snakes eat mammals (some eat birds and eggs), and only strike when that mammal moves, it'd be very hard to trick them. Snakes also don't smell like mammals do, so repellants have no effect.

  11. #11
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    I would say go ahead and have your garden if you want one, and just keep a sharp eye out. Get a cat or two, preferably barn cats who you know are good mousers. Cats are usually smart enough not to fuck with rattlesnakes, but they'll keep the place clear of mice and other rattlesnake food so the snakes aren't tempted to come near. When you walk in the garden or underbrush, walk loudly (take hard steps and rustle the grass as you walk). The snakes really don't want to meet you and they'll scoot away before you get there.

    I assume you're not building a house in the country so you can pave over everything with cement and astroturf (ugh). You're building there so you can enjoy your natural surroundings, no? So enjoy them and have your garden.

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    Veteran Member toomuchhomeworklately's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    Maybe you could have the garden surrounded by cement with the under and above ground fencing surrounding it? I'd be worried that if you got cats they would be curious to sniff a snake & get too close. When I got my cat as a kitten I had a 3 foot python that the cat was constantly trying to play with. I ended up giving the snake away (cause I couldn't take it with me when I moved) so the snake & kitten didn't get a chance to injure each other.

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    God/dess Sirona's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    And keep in mind if it's specifically rattlers you're worried about, they'll give you more than fair arning if you're too close to them.

    Snakes are not by nature agressive as far as going out of thier way to attack non-food related animals and obviously people. They really try to avoid "wasting" venom as it's produced in limited quantities. Keep in mind it's how they get thier food hence they try and save it for just that.

    Snakes will hiss, puff up and blind strike in an attempt to scare you away. Once again plenty of warning.

    Oh and if you DO have a garden one thing is for sure... you'll have a lot fewer chipmunks/squirrels/bunnies raiding your garden.



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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by cameron_keys View Post
    Please, please, please...dont keep dogs around outside where you know there are rattlers. It's just cruel to put them in danger like that.

    If you google rattlesnake control and population management...you'll get a ton of sites offering ideas.
    agreed. they could kill the dogs. please dont kill the snakes. i hate people who kill animals esp just because they are afraid. the snakes have a right to exist too. just dont bother them and they will prob stay away from u. their first point of defence will be to flee anyway.

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    Default Re: Snakes!!!

    I grew up in Central Florida. Rattlesnakes, water moccasins, coral snakes, the occasional copperhead, alligators, you name it. We had dogs, a garden, a swingset, a pool, etc. You learn what precautions to take. I think in the entire 21 years I grew up there, my encounters with a snake that could have potentially been dangerous could be counted on one hand. That also includes me being the wildlife director at a summer camp in Ocala National Forest for 3 years. Snakes really don't want anything to do with you, as several folks mentioned. My best advice is a stave/walking stick. Walk with it in the more woodsy forested areas, bang it on the ground, etc. If you DO happen to come across a snake? Please, admire it, and let it move on. Fences won't work, dogs won't work, cats won't work, concrete won't work. Snakes are amazing, seriously, learn more about what species live in the area you're moving to. You'll probably learn some nifty facts.
    waffles are just pancakes with little squares on them.

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