[PR1234]

I'm not a great fan of snakes either, BUT would rather have them than rats for sure!

[Serenoa]

I sure do pity our future neighbors in TV, whoever they turn out to be. Once we move there & get settled in I'll be planting mass quantities of various PALMS, big & small. Oh no, RATS galore!!

Believe me, that's only an old wives tale, nothing more. Unless you allow a huge "skirt" of many, many dead fronds (leaves) to collect & remain at the top of your tree, you will NOT have a family of rats move in & take up residence.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Rats also love for you to put your trash out early.

Never had that problem. I put my trash out around 5 PM the day before collection.

[scot_atc]

I've heard numerous pigs near our home in Lake Deaton, especially on the Southeast end of the neighborhood. We walked into a new construction a couple weeks ago and across the pond was a large one. Probably 140+ lbs. This was around dusk. They will tear you up. Y'all be careful out there.

[Hancle704]

Someone told me years ago, that birds were always able to find adequate food and water in Florida without folks putting out bird feeders. His point was that the seeds that dropped to ground along with fruit that falls from trees are enjoyed by rodents. The more rodents around, the more snakes show up. Also said that these big clumps of Pampas Grass are natural nesting places for a variety of rodents especially if they are near a food supply.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Hancle704

Someone told me years ago, that birds were always able to find adequate food and water in Florida without folks putting out bird feeders. His point was that the seeds that dropped to ground along with fruit that falls from trees are enjoyed by rodents. The more rodents around, the more snakes show up. Also said that these big clumps of Pampas Grass are natural nesting places for a variety of rodents especially if they are near a food supply.

One of the golf course maintenance staff told me snakes love Pampas grass.

[Dirigo]

We live on a preserve. There are 160 open acres behind our house. I put up a game camera a couple of years ago. The camera captured images of coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and feral cats.

There is a pack of coyotes that live in the preserve. When the coyotes hear the emergency response vehicle sirens they all howl. It's a pretty neat sound. We have seen coyotes in mid-day.

We've seen gators, frogs, snakes (non-poisonous...so far), and some pretty big spiders, but no rats. Oh, and 54 species of birds so far.

I'm not crazy about the spiders, and the snakes startle me sometimes, but we love living on the preserve.