Ä [20] Survnet: SURVIVAL_ORIENTED TOPICS (9:1992/111) ÄÄÄÄÄÄ SURVIVAL_ORIENTED Ä
 Msg  : 86 of 94 - 85                                                           
 From : Terry Buyers                        1:3624/7        Thu 09 Sep 93 09:09 
 To   : Linda Thompson                                                          
 Subj : survival kit                                                            
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In a msg on <Sep 08 17:01>, Linda Thompson of 9:2400/1 writes:


 LT> Is there any good way to get rid of snakes (besides shooting them
 LT> individually)?  Do they have any natural enemies (besides
 LT> mongooses)?

Rattlers don't like noise and motion - makes it hard for them to track what is
going on. They also don't like mothballs. And as I mentioned, they won't hang
out long if there is nothing to eat. Unfortunately, there are almost always fat,
lazy, mice around a farmhouse. Dress accordingly, watch wher you are going (a
suprised rattler may not warn you before it bites) and make chili out of any big
ones that insist on hanging out around the house. Encourage non-poisonous snakes
to do the varmint control duties. And remember that the bite of a rattler is
almost never fatal to a healthy adult.

Ows, hawks, crows, cats, dogs, raccoons - just about every omnivore - will eat
small snakes. Some dogs will tackle the big ones. Some that have been bit will
develop a real attitude. Even pigs will take on a good size snake.

Bad customer is the water moccasin/cotton mouth. They are aggressive and
territorial. They also climb, swim, and will bite under water. They also nest in
big clumps up under the banks of streams and ponds, making a fall into the water
fatal. They don't rattle at all. They are slower than the rattler but downright
bad tempered. Less meat than a fat rattler, they make lousy chili.

Plumber's Lye on damp ground discourages snakes from crawling over the area. Lye
is also hazardous to the foundation of the house, kids, and other animals. Wood
ash over a long period of time will have the same effect of making the ground
very alkaline.

Bottom line is just to exercise reasonable care, watch where you are going,
don't stick your hands or feet any place you haven't looked first. In warm
weather you step on on a downed log and look before stepping over. Snakes like
to lay in the shade and dampness alongside of one. In cold weather you save the
effort and step over - the no-legged, fork toungers are sleeping someplace warm.


Be careful out there.

--- msgedsq 2.1
 * Origin: Schrodinger's Catbox(803)652-3760 PRNet/SC SURVNet (1:3624/7)

