J. Del Col wrote:

Releasing snakes into new territories is not a very good idea. What
will happen is that the more competitive snakes will survive, while
the less successful will move on to new territory or starve. Nature
really is red in tooth and claw. She also likes to keep her books
balanced. Predator/prey ratios are not easily changed.

Yes, but black rat snakes are native to central NC.

Shiva, the one problem I do see is that they will eat just about
anything they can catch that's not too big for them to swallow. Hence,
chipmunks, etc. may also be dinner.

Personally, I love snakes. When I start having vole problems, this
sounds like a good solution for me. Only problem that I can see is
keeping them from migrating to some one else's yard. Number one, I
would want them to eat my voles and not the neighbor's and number two is
that so many people are phobic about snakes that they may not live too
long in someone else's yard.

Susan
shsimko at duke dot edu