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Post by johno on Jun 3, 2010 21:58:20 GMT -5
snake on patrol  |
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Post by grunt on Jun 4, 2010 0:03:10 GMT -5
That should help a bit with the mice.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 4, 2010 0:14:15 GMT -5
Do you suppose that's the same one that took your chick? I generally like snakes in the garden. But only if I see 'em coming. I hate being surprised... makes me scream like a girl! 
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Post by plantsnobin on Jun 4, 2010 7:56:21 GMT -5
I'm with you Lav. It's fine if I see them a few feet away, but otherwise... We used to raise quail, and one day when I lifted the door to feed them, there was a huge chicken snake in there, with dead birds around him, the rest of them huddled in a corner, and a couple already in him. Lucky for me he was too full to move, my trusty hoe took care of him.
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Post by bunkie on Jun 4, 2010 9:35:47 GMT -5
we have those garter snakes that are green with a yellow stripe. they like to lay in my bean teepees and scare the heck out of me when i'm harvesting....and yeah, i scream like a girl too! ;D
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Post by galina on Jun 5, 2010 6:41:02 GMT -5
Johno,
what type of snake is it, do you know? We have a very occasional adder scuttling out from underneath the grass mulch around the potato plants, but they seem to want to get away from me as fast as they can. Don't have time to scream :-) they are gone so fast.
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Post by johno on Jun 5, 2010 7:28:15 GMT -5
I think it's a king snake. Notice the light speckles at the belly. I have killed several venomous snakes already this year, all young. I hope the one in the picture eats the rest of them.
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Post by galina on Jun 5, 2010 15:50:34 GMT -5
Pretty scary. Please wear good strong shoes or boots in the garden.
At least this King Snake is not venomous. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by johno on Jun 5, 2010 17:08:40 GMT -5
Ha ha - I wear closed-toe flip flops. Cottonmouths are the only ones that frighten me a bit. Sometimes we have little rattlers, too. It's mostly king snakes and copperheads here, though.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 6, 2010 6:41:36 GMT -5
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Post by johno on Jun 6, 2010 8:45:42 GMT -5
We have blue racers, but they are rare these days. It didn't behave like a racer - ours will chase you away. It could be a type of rat snake.
Not saying it's safe... but I used to play with copperheads when I ways a boy, too. They aren't very aggressive, as venomous snakes go. I've never been bitten by one, but I've seen a few dogs get it. Even a few people. My brother was bitten a few years ago, and he didn't realize what the problem was for a while. There is swelling at the bite and illness like a bad cold for about three days.
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Post by flowerpower on Jun 7, 2010 5:45:25 GMT -5
He's cute. Looks like he'd make a nice pet.  I'd say that was a King Snake. Corn snakes are usually banded not solid. The King prefers to eat other snakes, but it might take a small chick, mouse, etc. We have mostly garters here. Alot less since we've had chickens. They swallow them just like spaghetti. |
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Post by Alan on Jun 9, 2010 11:56:42 GMT -5
Yep, that would be a king snake! What a beautiful one too! Did I ever mention back before I wanted to farm or play music, when I was a kid I wanted desperately to be a herpatologist! We have a lot of king snakes, pine snakes, rat snakes, and racers here. Due to them there aren't so many venomous snakes on the farm unless you go into the bottoms at the neighbors looking for them, mostly copperheads, thoughw we have seen a couple of timber rattlers. The guineas do a good job of keeping the snake population down as well. Later this week I'm going to tear down an old seed corn drier (looks like a small silo, but with holes in the wall and venilation shaft up the center) to use for a corn crib and seed corn drier as well, at some point I'll likely find a mouse eater to leave live in the crib. |
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Oh yea, it was alive when it was brought in. 
I'd say that was a King Snake. Corn snakes are usually banded not solid. The King prefers to eat other snakes, but it might take a small chick, mouse, etc. We have mostly garters here. Alot less since we've had chickens. They swallow them just like spaghetti. 
