[buggyone]

I am sitting in my Florida room right now watching a snake just outside the door in my garden. It is a ribbon snake around 24 inches long and he (?) appears just to be soaking up some sun - and probably hoping a little anole comes by for breakfast.

I was going to hit some balls at the range but I left my clubs in the back of the car and Mrs. Buggy took the car this morning - so I get to snake watch!

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by buggyone

I am sitting in my Florida room right now watching a snake just outside the door in my garden. It is a ribbon snake around 24 inches long and he (?) appears just to be soaking up some sun - and probably hoping a little anole comes by for breakfast.

I was going to hit some balls at the range but I left my clubs in the back of the car and Mrs. Buggy took the car this morning - so I get to snake watch!

I love all critters.

[Happydaz]

I am glad you are enjoying watching the snake! That is a lot better than what my neighbor did when he saw a snake in his yard. Being a city person he thought you had to kill the snakes so he attacked it with his shovel. I attempted to educate him that most snakes here are non poisonous and they keep palm rats(roof rats), mice and other varmits under control. He got scared again and wanted to know about the "palm rat." Fear seems to be his thing. Anyway, I got him to commit to calling me first before he does anything with a snake.

[buggyone]

[QUOTE=Happydaz;855284]I am glad you are enjoying watching the snake! That is a lot better than what my neighbor did when he saw a snake in his yard. Being a city person he thought you had to kill the snakes so he attacked it with his shovel. I attempted to educate him that most snakes here are non poisonous."

Excellent! Before I moved to The Villages, I volunteered at a county nature center and gave reptile demonstrations to school groups. I used black racer snakes, king snakes, and corn snakes in the demonstrations and the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot better than their parents and teachers.

The county had a policy of no animal cruelty being allowed. This even applied to the white mice that were snake food. The county bought frozen whole mice as snake food. A snake will eat only food that is warm - body temperature. We had to put the frozen mouse in a microwave oven to warm it up for the snakes to eat. You do NOT ever want to see what happens to a frozen mouse that is left in the microwave too long!

[Villager Joyce]

[quote=buggyone;855325]

Originally Posted by Happydaz

I am glad you are enjoying watching the snake! That is a lot better than what my neighbor did when he saw a snake in his yard. Being a city person he thought you had to kill the snakes so he attacked it with his shovel. I attempted to educate him that most snakes here are non poisonous."

Excellent! Before I moved to The Villages, I volunteered at a county nature center and gave reptile demonstrations to school groups. I used black racer snakes, king snakes, and corn snakes in the demonstrations and the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot better than their parents and teachers.

The county had a policy of no animal cruelty being allowed. This even applied to the white mice that were snake food. The county bought frozen whole mice as snake food. A snake will eat only food that is warm - body temperature. We had to put the frozen mouse in a microwave oven to warm it up for the snakes to eat. You do NOT ever want to see what happens to a frozen mouse that is left in the microwave too long!

Thanks (not) for sharing THAT story!!! Stories like that is what made me a vegetarian. Never regretted that decision.

[laryb]

Got a call yesterday to come home right away, as there was a snake in the lanai. Got home and found a 2 ft. black racer, which I directed to the lanai door with a broom. Ten minutes later, I hear a yell that there was another snake in there. This one was about a foot longer, and I got rid of that one too. I have subsequently caulked as many openings that might give them access. Don't mind the anoles, but I draw the line with snakes. Anyone else find them in the lanai, and how did you deal with them?

[PaPaLarry]

If you have siding, they get through along the siding

[DonH57]

As beneficial as they are I still don't like them. I had a dream last nite I was doing some weeding or something around bushes and seen a brown snake coiled up. I practically jumped up out of bed. It might have been the mushrooms I had in my dinner.

[perrjojo]

It's true that many of our Florida creatures are creepy and scary....snakes, gators, centipedes, miilepedes, etc. I just hate it when we want to kill every living thing here that worries us. They are part of our ecology and were here first. Please enjoy and live and let live. If they can tolerate us, surely we can tolerate them.

[DougB]

The county had a policy of no animal cruelty being allowed. This even applied to the white mice that were snake food. The county bought frozen whole mice as snake food. A snake will eat only food that is warm - body temperature. We had to put the frozen mouse in a microwave oven to warm it up for the snakes to eat. You do NOT ever want to see what happens to a frozen mouse that is left in the microwave too long!

No animal cruelty allowed? But they froze little white mice, put them in microwaves (sometimes exploding them), and fed them to snakes??

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I don't want to see ANY snakes and I have NO idea why I read these posts. I suppose it's like not turning away from an accident (although I DO turn away and don't want to look). So are you big brave guys all going to leave me panic phone numbers to call when I see a snake? Just the thought gives me the shivers. Yelch...

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

It's true that many of our Florida creatures are creepy and scary....snakes, gators, centipedes, miilepedes, etc. I just hate it when we want to kill every living thing here that worries us. They are part of our ecology and were here first. Please enjoy and live and let live. If they can tolerate us, surely we can tolerate them.

"Live and Let Live, eh?"
Hmmmmm . . . Interesting comment.

And do you have a "pest control" service and contract???

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by DougB

No animal cruelty allowed? But they froze little white mice, put them in microwaves (sometimes exploding them), and fed them to snakes??

No, the county bought the pre-frozen mice from a supplier so the county had clean hands (until the mouse was exploded in a microwave). Strange county, to say the least.

The county also had a "rain tax". This was an annual fee based upon the square footage of your roofs, sidewalks, or other impervious surfaces that rain might get contaminated from as it began it's way to the Chesapeake Bay.

[Bonanza]

Just as a point of information -- most of our snakes are harmless to humans but I have to assume there are water moccasins near our little lakes and in the protected marshland areas.

Some of their favorite places to hide are in heavily planted areas and especially in and about tall grasses, such as pampas grass.

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

Just as a point of information -- most of our snakes are harmless to humans but I have to assume there are water moccasins near our little lakes and in the protected marshland areas.

Some of their favorite places to hide are in heavily planted areas and especially in and about tall grasses, such as pampas grass.

Now, THOSE snakes I'm scared of!!!!! Water Moccasins can be very aggressive!!