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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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Hi Moms~
(Shudder)...I hate snakes. I really do.
I grew up in Wisconsin, but now live in FL...and am so not used to the critters. We just saw our first tarantula in the wild at a home schooling event at a state park last week (shudder)...and now...
A snake has taken up residence in my backyard. :(
I don't mind the snakes slithering through...but I do mind them making my yard their home. I have a relatively small back yard, which does not give the snake, nor my children, enough space from each other.
It is black (I could not get close enough to see any pattern), and about 1.5-2 inches wide. It had a small head. I would think it would be a black racer snake (non-venomous), except that it was not fast in the least (a trade mark of black racers). It hesitated...a lot...and moved very slowly. It would stick it's head up and look...and slowly slither...and slowly slither a yard or two...and look up...and repeat this pattern.
I later discovered a 1.5 in in diameter hole (a new hole), in our garden by the shrubs...and I have the distinct feeling this is its home.
So...is there some way I can evict this creature and discourage it from nesting here?
I have heard with other animals that you can put pepper by their homes, etc...I don't know if that works for a snake or not.
While it is non-venomous, if a black racer...I have read that BRs are the most aggressive of non-venomous snakes...and will bite. Great.
Any advice?
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 8:31am | IP Logged
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Could it have been hunting? Or ill?
Don't hate me, but...I'd leave it alone. It will keep other critters out of your yard. And this is as good a time as any to teach your children about snake safety.
I know your yard is small, but I can't figure out any way to persuade Mr. Snake to look for better quarters...
Maybe some native Floridians can tell you what to do to keep Mr. S. away from your children.
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Mimip
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 8:36am | IP Logged
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Maggie,
Did it have a white chin? BR usually have a white chin. How long was it? Do you have water near by? Was it blotchy black or more grayish black? If I remember correctly you are in North FL right?
I would call the local science museum and see if they have a snake exhibit that needs a new specimen  That is how our Science museum gets theirs all the time. I love snakes and every time we go to the museum to visit they always have new snakes that were brought to the museum by people who wanted the snakes out of the yard.
It could be moving slow because of a ton of reasons: Laying eggs recently or soon, just had a meal  or even shedding skin can slow them down.
Good luck, This reminds me that I need to read about our local snakes again and start an in depth study with the kiddies (again  )
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 8:44am | IP Logged
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I could not tell if it had a white chin or not...profile and behind view.
We have about 15 feet of grass and then 50 yds of forest and then a large pond beyond the forest...which is why I fear mocassins...a real threat. But...it didn't look like the pics of mocassins that I researched online. It was thin all the way throughout.
It was 3-4 feet long.
We are in North Florida. I was about 10-15 feet away, behind glass...and then tried to get closer by going on our screened back porch...but by then, he was further away...
It just looked black to me, but then again, I was far away.
I did not see any diamond patterns or anything like that, as I know Eastern Diamond Back are present in this region (most venomous in N. America--gee, thanks to our home schooling adventure at our State Park, I now know more than I wish I had known).
Any thoughts?
Eggs? Oh noooooooo! Good grief!!
I'm kind of surprised they even like my yard, given that the kiddos are out there pretty frequently.
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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dakotamidnight
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 8:47am | IP Logged
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Well, according to my mom {who lived in FL for years} - put the kids in the house for a while and get a good tom cat. If the cat won't touch the snake or stays away from the head, call animal control as it's likely venomous. Cats are an excellent judge of snakes.
In FL {And the south} there are just too many types of snakes - our rule of thumb is to consider them venomous until proven by an expert {normally animal control} not to be.
You could take a picture of it and post it online to try to get an ID on it.
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 9:03am | IP Logged
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Just great.
I am paranoid enough...
Here...I thought woods, etc would be good for my kids (ala Charlotte Mason)...and I know that they generally are...but there is a reality to where we live. As my dad says, "You won't get me to live in FL because I don't want to be part of the food chain." Right.
A Tom Cat? We don't have pets...and I am allergic to cats...
Can those live outside? But then they would probably be a nuisance to others?
Hmmmm....
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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dakotamidnight
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 9:11am | IP Logged
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Ahh - cat allergy. I understand.
You could also get a pot-bellied pig as {or a regular pig even} they keep snakes down too as they root up their homes, encouraging them to move on down the pike. Pigs do better in pairs though, and you do have to clean up a bit after them.
That is of course if your city code allows them.
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 9:17am | IP Logged
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dakotamidnight wrote:
Ahh - cat allergy. I understand.
You could also get a pot-bellied pig as {or a regular pig even} they keep snakes down too as they root up their homes, encouraging them to move on down the pike. Pigs do better in pairs though, and you do have to clean up a bit after them.
That is of course if your city code allows them. |
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Ah, yes...our county would have issues with that...not to mention our Home Owner's Association...and I am pretty sure that our nosy neighbor next door would take issue.
She met us for the first time last week (we just moved)...and offered to loan us her lawn mower and weed wacker.
Uh...we have both. Guess our lawn was not to her liking.
I am pretty sure she would notice the pigs. Though, that would be great fun!!
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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mavmama
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 9:30am | IP Logged
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Around here, people spread sulfur (in the powdered form) and it keeps snakes away. No matter how good they are for the environment-I can't get to the point where I can accept them. I am terrified of them, but can kill one with an ice chopper if given the chance.
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dakotamidnight
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 9:34am | IP Logged
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hmmmm...not too much you can do then. If you could tolerate an outdoor cat with your allergies it would be the easiest {it can be a fixed male - a large independent one is best}. It might be easier to get allergy shots than to deal with snakes & critters.
They do make snake repellents, but they aren't safe to use around children. http://doyourownpestcontrol.com/snakeaway.htm is one, and they also have links on the left side of the page to help ID snakes. The repellents don't work on water moccasins, but they do on rattlesnakes and most others.
Keep the lawn very short, and don't have places for snakes to hide - i.e. shrubs, flowers, etc. That will help some too and make them easier to spot if you do get some.
The main thing I would work on with the kids is snake safety - i.e. any snake may be poisonous, back away slowly, Immediately get a parent, etc. And please emphasize they are NOT to pick up a snake, even if they have handled them at the zoo, etc. I've seen two children severely sickened because they picked up baby rattlesnakes thinking they were like at the zoo.
I don't like snakes any better than you - I'm trying to get rid of a possible rattlesnake in a plant bed at the front of my house!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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Well, having lived in north Fla most of my life, I can tell you that snake is not only harmless, but beneficial. It is either a black racer, black rat snake (that's my guess), or indigo snake (rare), all of which will help you rid your yard of vermin. If it were a water moccasin you would know it. Trust me, they have a very distinct pit-viper look to them which is hard to miss.
If it is an indigo snake, it will actually hunt and eat rattlers and water moccasins, so I would definitely find a way to make peace with him if you can.
I know it isn't easy, though.
The best way to encourage him to move on is to clear as much underbrush as possible. The snake is there because prey is plentiful and that means mostly mice and rats, etc, which need weeds/brush, palmettos, etc as cover. Eliminate the cover and you eliminate the prey. The snake will follow.
Looks like your friendly neighborhood lawn cop was actually helping you out by offering the trimmer !LOL!
In the mean time, make sure your kids know to stay clear of the snake because even a non-venomous snake is a wild animal and should not be handled.
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 12:14pm | IP Logged
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I just narrowed it down to those 3 snakes myself. I am inclined to think it is the rat snake, though.
I need to get my husband to trim back the brush at the edge of the forest. Ugh.
We'll see how peacefully we can coexist here...
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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Maggie wrote:
We'll see how peacefully we can coexist here... |
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Brave girl! Good for you!!! 
Oh, and I just love north fla. Are you anywhere near Alachua county? Our original LaPaz Farm (where my blog name came from) was between Alachua and High Springs. Lovely area, though it has been developed significantly since we lived there.
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Theresa
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Maggie
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| Posted: May 17 2010 at 12:22pm | IP Logged
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mavmama wrote:
| Around here, people spread sulfur (in the powdered form) and it keeps snakes away. No matter how good they are for the environment-I can't get to the point where I can accept them. I am terrified of them, but can kill one with an ice chopper if given the chance. |
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Is sulfur safe to have in your yard with children playing?
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Wife to dh (12 years) Mama to dd (10) ds (8), dd (1), ds (nb) and to Philip Mary (5/26/09), Lucy Joy (12/6/09), and Margaret Mary (3/6/10) who entered Heaven before we had a chance to hold them.
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Topic: Snake identification and eviction?
