Snakes

Seems like lots of people are afraid of snakes, for no good reason what so ever. And neither are snakes slimy as some people seem to think. In fact, they are smooth to the touch. Oh yes...we certainly are afraid of poisonous snakes, right. For your information, unless you spend lots of time in the deep northern woods or out west, you have a better chance of being struck by lightening. Naturally, there could be an exception but, they are far and few between. The snakes you normally see are not poisonous. 

Occasionally some species of snakes will find their way into old houses, especially those with sandstone foundations. These snakes are usually following the odor of a small rodent that came into the basement recently. Naturally, any snake that can eat mice, voles or shrews is going to be some what larger that the small Garter snake or Northern Brown snake, which rarely reach more than 18". Snakes found in homes are usually the Black Rat Snake, the Northern Black Racer, the Eastern Milk Snake and if you live near water, sometimes the Northern Water Snake.

Every once in a great while some contractor will purchase a piece of land and build a house close to an area where snakes have been spending the winter in a den. Of course this doesn't change the behavior of the snakes and in the fall they return to the den area. Much to the homeowner's displeasure and regret, it's not easy to get rid of this problem and sometimes takes several years.

Most snakes are not aggressive and would sooner be elsewhere rather than around screaming humans. However, there are some snakes that are aggressive, but only if you scare them or try to handle them. 

When you see a snake in your garden, be great full because it is eating lots of the insects that are eating your plants, or possibly the small rodents that like your produce. If you really want to keep snakes away from your home, it's easy. Keep the grass cut short, don't leave and piles of trimmings etc around, don't pile firewood near the house and if you have a small shed don't keep anything in it that will draw mice or other small rodents. All snakes are predators and are usually hunting for food, are resting out of the heat under something or trying to warm up on something that the sun has warmed up, like a rock. 

Sometimes you might want to catch and remove a snake from a building.   This is done by making a trap from a piece of PVC pipe 2" in diameter by 24" long, a nylon stocking that doesn't have large runs in it, some duct tape and a mouse nest.   You can sometimes find a usable mouse nest under something laying outside, like boards metal roofing etc.   When you have everything, wearing rubber gloves, Put the mouse nest into one end of the pipe.   Rap the top band of the nylon around the other end of the pipe and securely tape it in place.   With the nylon securely taped in place, slide the stocking up over the pipe until just the toe is not on the pipe.   With a long rod or dial push the nest into the stocking toe.   Take hold of the nest and pull the stocking off the pipe so that it hangs free.   Locate a ledge that you can lay the pipe on while the stocking hangs straight down.   Drag the toe of the stocking along the ledge to leave a trail that smells of mice.   Place the pipe properly with the trail leading to the open end and make sure you put something heavy over the pipe to hold the snakes weight once it is in the stocking.   While hunting the snake should locate the trail and follow it to the pipe.   Thinking the mouse is in there the snake will follow and drop into the stocking.   The snake cannot crawl up the nylon, its too slippery for his scales to grip.   Never kill a black snake they are very beneficial.   You can release the snake by laying the pipe and nylon on the ground so the snake can crawl out.  

If you want to try catching a snake that is in the house, get a 2 foot piece of 2 inch PVC pipe, a nylon stocking, rubber surgeon gloves and duct tape.   Now locate a mouse nest that was recently used, don't touch it with your bare hands.   Put on the gloves, roll up the nylon and pull it over the pipe so the toe is touching one end of the pipe.   With your gloved hand pick up the mouse nest and stuff it into the other end of the pipe.   Using a broom handle that has been washes to remove all odors, push the nest into the nylon.   Now hold the nylon, allowing it to un-roll as you pull the nylon off of the pipe keeping the nest in the toe.    Allow about 6 inches of the nylon to remain on the pipe and tape it in place securely.    Place the pipe where the nylon can hang straight down and put something heavy over the pipe to counter balance the snake's weight.   When the snake senses the mouse it will go into the pipe and drop down into the nylon trying to catch the mouse.   Once in the nylon the snake is stuck because it can't get a grip to crawl out.   Pick up the pipe, set the snake on the floor and twist the nylon to keep it inside the stocking.   Now you can take it someplace away from your home and let it go.  NEVER KILL BLACK SNAKES!  

It's finally arrived!  A snake repellant that really works.  Liquid Fence Company just brought out a new "Snake Repellant" that works GREAT!!!   You can get some at any of the stores I talk about on the radio or at all True Value, ACE, Hardware Hank and Trader Horn Stores.   In the event they don't have the product, just tell them to contact Liquid Fence to get some.