In article , John Bachman
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:43:40 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:


QUESTION: “How does one get rid of snakes without poisoning pets? The
snakes are around the house foundation and we believe they are
Racers.” – Teresa Finch

ANSWER: According to the Web site www.snakesandfrogs.com “Black Racers
are slender black snakes of adult size from 30 to 60 inches in length.
They are called ‘racers’ because they are active, fast moving snakes.
Usually, these snakes quickly slither to the safety of thick grass or
brush when encountered. If cornered or grasped, they will bite
viciously in defense.” However, they are not venomous.
As you might guess, snakes generally go where there is a food source.
Chances are that they are eating rats, mice, frogs and large insects,
and the black racers also eat poisonous snakes.


So, why do you want to get rid of them? You want more "rats, mice,
frogs and large insects"? More poisonous snakes too?

Seems to me that you have a natural control for some troublesome
critters. Welcome Mr. black snake.

John

I wondered the same thing. How I wish a batch of racers would gather in my
garden! (Except they're not native 'round here; I'll have to settle for
innocent wee garter snakes.) Three or four species of the genus Coluber
and Elaphe get called "black snakes," but usually Coluber constrictor, and
either way harmless. They can even be tamed. Bigger ones eat rodents and
can take on a full grown rat; the smaller or mid-sized ones often prefer
snails, slugs, and small rodents, frequently entering nests to get baby
field mice or deermice. The baby black snakes are more colorful and look
like a different species, turning bacl when they're older; the babies
earthworms and grubs or frogs and baby mice.

Most snakes hunt at dusk but Coluber constrictor hunts in broad of day and
very swift on a hot day. Like garter snakes their first line of defense if
molested by dog or child is to fart a stinky mess all over the attacker.
They bite if they have to, but as they won't be able to hunt if they get
their fangs ripped out, they try never to have to bite. They can't cause
much harm even if they do bite. I've been bitten by colubrids and it's
difficult but I always tried not to flinch as hurting their fangs can lead
to infection for a captive snake, starvation for one in the wild. At
"worst," they're no threat to children or pets that a wash cloth or a dab
of iodine wouldn't repair.

One cool behavior is instead of instantly fleeing from a motion, they'll
raise up their heads and look left and right trying to see what's up, then
take off if it's a human being or a dog. (If it's an Elaphe species it's
apt to be less visible, but they get bigger and are great ratters, the
genus being quite varied in colors and collectively called "rat snakes"
because of their skill. These are what I used to breed many long years
ago).

-paghat the ratgirl
--
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