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Snakes.
taeric
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
So, I've now managed to find 3 snakes in my yard. So far, my main method of handling them has been to leave them alone and come back later to finish raking. Main reason for doing this is I don't want to risk making a mistake and getting hurt. That said, how should I deal with snakes in my yard? They are smallish with brown on them. (Largest one was about 7 inches. )
Also, if anyone can let me know what type of snakes I'm most likely looking at, that would be appreciated. I live in Sandy Springs, GA (just north of Atlanta). A neighbor thinks they are garter snakes. (I always thought those were green, though a quick trip to wikipedia shows I'm wrong on that one.)
Also, if anyone can let me know what type of snakes I'm most likely looking at, that would be appreciated. I live in Sandy Springs, GA (just north of Atlanta). A neighbor thinks they are garter snakes. (I always thought those were green, though a quick trip to wikipedia shows I'm wrong on that one.)
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This was my way of dealing with a single snake. However, I was working without gloves and had flip-flops on. So.... I figured it was safest to just leave and come back later.
Also, is there a decent argument for keeping the snakes? I don't personally care for killing things. My wife, however, is of the mindset that a dead snake is a good snake. I do not particularly care to convince her we should keep any pets, I would just feel guilty about not killing them if there are good reasons for them to not be near our yard.
That look like it?
Either way, probably not a serious threat - but if it is a fore-fanged snake, a pair of thin gardening gloves won't keep it down. Leather if you absolutely have to handle it, but I'd just gently give it the lift-and-dump with a shovel or poke it with the blunt end of any lawn implement - snakes really would rather run than fight.
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
(Again, any good reasons to get rid of or keep them? Without compelling arguments either way, I'm content that I'll keep dumping them somewhere away from me, and my wife will probably keep killing them.)
edit: I only say "until you find them in your house" because as cool as snakes are, and as much as I love them, even I would think it's gross to have snakes free-roaming your house...
If either of you garden, major points in favour of keeping them. They're not big enough to eat rodents, but they'll kill slugs, snails, and earthworms.
Like I said, spook them and they'll run away or fake a strike, but at 7" long I don't think they could even get their mouths open enough to put teeth into you. :P
Can trade TF2 items or whatever else you're interested in. PM me.
All that said, we talked last night and my wife is ok with my not killing them, so long as we never have one as a pet.
First, there are people you can pay who will come out, capture the snake, and release it somewhere else. You would obviously have to be able to show it to them. We did this a few years ago (for a much larger snake than that), and it cost us $75. Your Animal Control should be able to put you in touch with these people. Animal Control themselves unfortunately only come out if the snake is in your house or directly threatening someone/pets. For those particular snakes, I probably wouldn't bother with this, though my wife has a mortal fear of snakes, so I would have to do something.
The second is there is a product (that I can't remember the name of now, someone else in the thread can probably tell you) that you sprinkle around your fence and house (it's a powder) that's supposedly really effective at keeping snakes out of your yard. It would probably also keep them in your yard, so if you find one, you'd have to move it outside of your fence. We lived in a neighborhood with houses on all sides, so there was really nowhere to move it.
I would only kill it as a last resort. Not only does killing it suck (unless you like murder), but then you have the problem of disposing of it. Snakes may look tiny, but they rot as well as anything else, and don't smell pleasant.
I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to do that.
Let me find the reference real fast for it though.
*shrug* used them for years when I was still a wee one living with my parents, since they scared my mom.
Also, you could just call Samuel L. Jackson.