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Posted 6/23/2014 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
shocked

so we've been in this house for 7 years - we've seen a few garter snakes, but that's it -

so what the heck, we encountered our 2nd one in 2 weeks last nite !

both have been deported, but how many more will come knocking ?

with 11 cats, and 3 dogs and 2 mini donkies, you'd think they would find a more welcoming place to visit - although I have to admit, our animals so far have been more interested than protective -

none of our close neighbors have seen any - just lucky us -

just wondering if any of you have a guaranteed repellant that doesn't cost more than we paid for our house !
Posted 6/23/2014 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Garter snakes are harmless, I wouldn't worry. They are beneficial as they eat bugs and mice.
Posted 6/23/2014 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
To clarify, you've found rattlesnakes?

As far as I know, nothing is guaranteed to keep a snake from exploring your yard....
Posted 6/23/2014 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Garter snakes? Want a couple scorpions( I was stung last year in the house) or a rattler or 6?
Posted 6/23/2014 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had a Burmese python named Fluffy for a few years, had to give her away after she got over 12 feet long, they are very strong and expensive to feed at that size, and can grow to 20 feet.
I only ever got bit once, and it was my fault.

Garters are so harmless, I wouldn't worry.
Posted 6/23/2014 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Fruitgirl, I was wondering if it was rattlersnakes as well!

C.

Posted 6/23/2014 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
If you do have rattle snakes get some king snakes, a mongoose or some guinea hens.
Posted 6/23/2014 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
I really hope that he meant rattlers and not garter snakes, that is way over the top with the drama for a garter.
Posted 6/23/2014 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
sorry - yes, the rattler snake variety - you know, ready, aim, bite, die -
Posted 6/23/2014 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, well that changes my response quite a lot soy. Rattlers, hmm not much stops rattlers except fencing with holes smaller than they can fit through. Which is fine for keeping them away from a small enclosure containing poultry or something, but you most likely cannot do the whole perimeter of your property with it = pricey. I wouldn't trust any repellents you see in stores or ads, more like a snake oil salesmen selling you just that I think. Don't have rattlers up here in New England where I am at. Just the harmless snakes here (e.g., garters, milk snakes, red bellied, and hognose), and the wife loves to pick those harmless ones up.
Posted 6/23/2014 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
hmmm, the mongoose and king snake sound interesting - but how do you keep them around, besides keeping them supplied with dinner, which we are trying to eliminate ?

dogs would most likely eat the birds :-(
Posted 6/23/2014 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah that makes things a more interesting now. The only thing I know that helps is getting yourself a bald eagle - not really feasible. My friends in AZ keep a loaded .22 at their door for any unwelcomed reptiles, they say it is really effective and cheap but doesn't keep them from not coming into their yard to begin with. I think your only option is changing your whole yard up, thinking that if your neighbors don't have any problems your yard would seem to offer better nesting and hiding spots for them. If putting up an expensive fence is out of the question (don't blame you) the only thing I can think of is clearing your ground of all piles of anything, debris, tree limbs, rocks and maybe even cutting out vegetation that they like. I think you have a problem that isn't going to go away easily.
Posted 6/23/2014 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Guinea hens will torture the dogs. They fly short distances and are really tough.
Posted 6/23/2014 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
ya bg, we have 2.5 acres so any kind of barrier would be nearly impossible - but I'm pretty sure they are coming from the neighbors property - they have lots of ........ er ........stuff, along with wood piles, old nasty outbuildings and such -

I just read that sulfur may be a possible deterrent - and it's fairly cheap -
Posted 6/23/2014 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
I thinking your neighbors wood pile makes for a great mating spot and now the youngings have to leave the nest and find their own way in life - which so happens to be your yard, don't want to live to far away from the family. That sucks though, never heard of sulfur but I could see how that might work, give it a shot.
Posted 6/23/2014 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
and why not join the Pentecostal Church and become the snake handler :) ??
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_handling)
Posted 6/23/2014 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Rattle snakes seek shade from heat and cover for safety. Snakes tend to slither from one safe area to another. So the high traffic areas need to be completely cleared of shrubs, high grass, or any possible hiding areas. But you probably won't be able to keep them out of all of your 2.5 acres.

Anything that can attract mice, rats, or rodents will eventually bring on the rattlers.

We aren't experts. I would go to your local community college or university to consult with a herpetologist for the best information about snakes in your area.

Post Edited (IamCurious) : 6/23/2014 4:59:55 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/24/2014 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
"My friends in AZ keep a loaded .22 at their door for any unwelcomed reptiles"


is that what they call them in AZ ? I prefer a 12 gauge :-)
Posted 6/24/2014 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Rattlesnakes are generally harmless and benign animals, people are just easily scared. Remember the most dangerous animal on earth is man. They can be easily caught with tongs and put in a 5 gal bucket with a lid and relocated somewhere nearby and more appropriate, of course in many areas nothing "appropriate" has been left for wildlife. The majority of my rattlesnake experiences are with mellow, quiet animals that allow themselves to be admired and photographed quite closely. Indiscriminate cowboy killing of snakes makes me sick. Perhaps your herd of cats has deprived them of any and all opportunities to eat?
Posted 6/24/2014 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
you may be right fred - the only rodents we have around are gophers - which I would think might be attractive to snakes - I live next to thousands of acres of rangeland - you'd think these guys would be out there looking for meals -

ya, I have no problem with the invaders, as long as they leave me alone - I was an ethical vegan until uc hit - I'm now an ethical carnivore - we have tons of wasps around our place but I don't bug them unless they bug me - same with anything pretty much, but I do draw the line at property damage - ants are very destructive, so they are controlled to a certain degree -

I don't want my animals bitten for sure, but I agree % with you - so far, no injuries and the rattle boys seem to behave themselves - I don't fear them, but I do respect them - with my dicey health, I don't need anything else to challenge my well being - so if I catch the buggers, they get relocated where hopefully the only thing they will harm is dinner -
Posted 6/24/2014 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
SS- your very lucky to live next to so much open space. I was living on a very rural property a few years ago and came upon one under my steps… Having UC and making many blind runs per night to my very inconvenient outdoor bathroom, I was concerned Id miss it how it was, and Id lose it in the woodpile adjacent, then maybe step on it in one of my many nightly forays outside to crap. So, I killed it. Turned out it was really sluggish and would have been an easy capture, my bad. I generally help any and all snakes rattlers or not, off the roads and out of danger. I admit finding rattlesnakes in the house is a bit much.. but as long as theres no harm, no foul! Good luck with them.
Posted 6/25/2014 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
[img]VIEW IMAGE


this is looking north from my backyard - it goes for miles - and yet they come into my world ???

and ya, in the house ...... meet your maker !

Post Edited (soystud) : 6/24/2014 8:35:00 PM (GMT-6)

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