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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 61
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2010
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I have a pondless waterfall feature in my yard with lots of boulders planted along the side. I realize that I have created a perfect spot for snakes to hangout, but it has never been a problem until this year. I have spotted several garter snakes on the edges and slithering across the stone steps. Problem is the steps lead to the swimming pool and we often are walking down them barefoot. They are startling the heck out of my wife and I and when the little ones(nephews and nieces) come over to swim this summer I can only imagine the nightmares they will have. What to do?
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,505 Likes: 829
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,505 Likes: 829 |
Tell them that the garter snakes will eat bugs and mice.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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And then kill every doggone one you see!!! Good snake = dead snake in my book!
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,050 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
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I've never been harmed by a snake but several have made me hurt myself.
One consideration is that snakes need moisture to shed their skin. Perhaps, just perhaps, they will leave.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 61
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2010
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I know that is true, but I dont think the kids will care. And to tell you the truth, I screamed like a little girl 3 times today while going up the stairs, and seeing the giant serpant slither away. Cmon somebody has to have a snake remedy.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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And to tell you the truth, I screamed like a little girl 3 times today while going up the stairs, and seeing the giant serpant slither away. Sounds like a great addition to the "copperheaded rattlemocassin" thread! By the way, I'd have done the same thing in all likelihood!
Last edited by Todd3138; 05/23/10 08:40 PM. Reason: Man enough to admit that I'd scream like a little girl, too!
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
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Here ya go.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Tell them that the garter snakes will eat bugs and mice. Plus one. IMHO you should use this as an opportunity to learn and teach. I grew up in the city but in my youth my mom and dad took us camping a lot. In addition we lived on one of the numerous canyons in San Diego. I encountered plenty of snakes growing up. My dad made sure that we could identify the dangerous snakes so that we could keep a safe distance. Unfortunately there were times that we had to kill a few (once I killed a 5 foot Western Diamondback that decided to make our garage it's home) but for the most part we left them alone. Learn to identify the dangerous snakes from the beneficial ones and teach the family how to as well.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Wow, JHAP! Another serious and beneficial post! You, sir, are on a roll!
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Wow, JHAP! Another serious and beneficial post! You, sir, are on a roll! Must be a fluke. Don't go upping your expectations on me.
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Here ya go. Tom McEwen?
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I guess it is a good thing we've had these important discussions. Travis (CJBS) can at least do a good job of protecting the people in his patrol area from the dreaded Copperheaded Rattlemoccasins that are invading Fairfax County, VA
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
nypondguy - You are to be commended for providing habitat for beneficial snakes. However, many people have an irrational fear of snakes. I have heard that mothballs will repel them, but personally, we have few poisonous snakes in my area, so I encourage them. In fact I hope to build a large snake hybernaculum this year.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 271
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2007
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I have lots of stone walls on my property and have had my share of garder snakes. When the kids were growing up they liked to catch them and bring them in the house. My wife was not very found of that behavior.
It's been a while since I've seen a snake, even though I have a rocky slopes around the pond. Last fall when I pulled the waterfall pump there was a eastern corn snake that had gotten to close to the inlet and drown. This year, just last week, I came across a large garder snake and tossed it into the nearby woods. I saw it again the following day and it disappeared into the rocks and I haven't seen it since.
I've also heard that moth balls will drive snakes and other creatures away.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 31
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2007
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1) Fill in the pond. That will deny them a water source for them and their food, and softening the skin for shedding. 2) Eliminate the plants, trees, rocks or any other structure they can hide in, get shade, or where their food source hides. You'd be 99.99% safe building your house on a 1 acre parking lot. 3) If items #1 or #2 don't work, pray for snow... I hope advice this helps you get rid of those pesky rodent eaters. If it wasn't for snakes though, we'd only have spiders to make grown men scream like girls.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
Lets not get mean. Fear of snakes occurs all over the world, most likely as an evolutionary trait to avoid poisonous snakes. It is no small feat to overcome an innate fear. Some are afraid of heights, others spiders. It may be amusing to poke fun at this, but it only serves to drive folks away. I don't mean to be a party pooper, but I think we are here to support one another and help each other out? OK - enough of the mushy stuff...
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Two things that seem to keep snakes away are poultry and cats. I've lived most of the last 62 years in rural surroundings. I've certainly seen my share of snakes, but overall, the numbers are really low.
I'm not sure why it works, but I've read that having outdoor cats really keeps the snake population down. It may be because of the lack of food for the snakes. I've never seen any of our cats ever bring a snake home as a gift for us, but in the last 30 years, I may have seen 3 or 4 snakes near the house.
As for poultry -- snake control is a major entertainment event for chickens, guineas, etc. If you've ever seen a chicken discover a snake, you actually begin to feel sorry for the snake. As soon as one chicken sees the snake, the whole flock will be there immediately for some wholesome fun -- in chicken terms. They love to play what appears to be "keep away" with smaller snakes.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 271
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 271 |
Catmandoo,
Now that you mention it, our cats are into full time rodent control since they are now let out of the house each morning. I've seen at least one mouse or mole gifted by the walkway each day. We keep the cats in at night because, wev'e lost several over the last two years to coyotes.
One of the cats likes to walk with me when I go to the pond to feed the fish. I'll bet the snakes can sence the cats are around.
Chickens are also a good bet, I've seen what they can do to a mouse that found its way into the chicken yard, an it was not pretty.
Cats, chickens, or moth balls should cure your snake problem, nypondguy.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
nypondguy - You are to be commended for providing habitat for beneficial snakes. However, many people have an irrational fear of snakes. I have heard that mothballs will repel them, but personally, we have few poisonous snakes in my area, so I encourage them. In fact I hope to build a large snake hybernaculum this year. I used to be a huge snake fancier, trying to catch and identify every obscure species. I lost interest, but know my snakes like some pondmeisters know their fish. I guess I've been bitten a hundred times, and just laugh at it. Still,,, when I walk up on a snake, I get a tingle up my legs a split second before making it out visually, proving we have an innate fear of them. Mothballs do a great job of repelling me. I rather the snakes... just not too many of them.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 31
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Joined: Dec 2009
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Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
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Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
Joined: Dec 2009
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I just saw my first Eastern Hognose today. It was pretty cool. It was in my sisters garden. She just gently touched it with a stick and it's head puffed up and took a stance like a mini Cobra. It went into a hole under one of her raised beds. I am glad my dog Luna did not see it, as she is a digging machine. I have enough work in my garden, without having to repair hers. These are beneficial snakes that eat all kinds of nasty garden bugs. It was about, maybe, 14 inches long. If Todd saw it, undoubtedly, a new species would have been named: Copperhead Rattle-moccasin Cobra, and it would probably be a spitter Picture is from the MI DNR website.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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I too find snakes neat. I have a 6 foot diamondback rattler skin mounted in the studio. It came from Florida.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 271
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
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Just teach the children that garter snakes are a part of nature, eat pests, and are not a threat to people.
Ponds in TX, lake place in WI, me in CA
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