Last year I spent very little time in my flower garden because I kept running into the local snakes. Rarely were they tiny little garden snakes. No, the Goode house seems to be encouraging the visitation or co-habitation of large snakes This morning I turned on the sprinklers for the first time and then I saw one of the regulars once again.It’s a bull snake measuring in at approximately 5′ long and it lives under the garden inside a rock wall. I think it came out in view to dry off and warm up a bit after the unexpected cold shower that soaked his space below.
I love nature and the outdoors. I love gardening and taking care of my various plants… I don’t however, care much for the helpful hand of the local reptiles. I would close off the cracks in the rocks now if it weren’t for the animals already living inside. I wish there were a way to invite the snakes to leave amicably – and then keep them out all together.
I blame it all on the bunnies. If there were no bunny buffet – also living in the rock wall, the snakes would have to go else where for food. I’m guess I’m growing a regular reptile habitat here!
Hide the kids, that thing looks like it would swallow 'em whole!
Hide the kids, that thing looks like it would swallow 'em whole!
poor snake :p
maybe you need an owl house, would eat the bunnies at night and the snakes wouldn't have bunny buffets anymore :p
Your house is reminding me of Hawaii (bet you never thought of that!)… has rabbits so bring in the snakes, now what do we need to get rid of the snakes *snicker*
poor snake :p
maybe you need an owl house, would eat the bunnies at night and the snakes wouldn't have bunny buffets anymore :p
Your house is reminding me of Hawaii (bet you never thought of that!)… has rabbits so bring in the snakes, now what do we need to get rid of the snakes *snicker*
I am so going to have nightmares now. And I really, really thought I wanted a rock wall. Around here, everyone has an outdoor cat that runs free. That's supposed to keep us from seeing snakes – but I'm wary anyway.
I am so going to have nightmares now. And I really, really thought I wanted a rock wall. Around here, everyone has an outdoor cat that runs free. That's supposed to keep us from seeing snakes – but I'm wary anyway.
lol no kidding huh? tried to contact a wild life/snake group today – haven't heard anything back. all kinds of info online how to prevent them.. not much on how to get rid of them… humanely
lol no kidding huh? tried to contact a wild life/snake group today – haven't heard anything back. all kinds of info online how to prevent them.. not much on how to get rid of them… humanely
i think the snake is quite happy here… my kids don't totally mind it either. Maybe I'm the big fraddy cat. Come to think of it, there used to be an owl that lived about 100 yards away, if that… it's been gone a while. Maybe that's the trick.
i think the snake is quite happy here… my kids don't totally mind it either. Maybe I'm the big fraddy cat. Come to think of it, there used to be an owl that lived about 100 yards away, if that… it's been gone a while. Maybe that's the trick.
all the neighbors have dogs – so seems dogs or cats might help. all you have to do is make sure to fill in the cracks with mortar enough packed dirt. our set up is a landscape error from the builder and they partially filled the space with dirt ontop of a weed barrier, it left a big empty space under that we never filled… so just plan yours better!
all the neighbors have dogs – so seems dogs or cats might help. all you have to do is make sure to fill in the cracks with mortar enough packed dirt. our set up is a landscape error from the builder and they partially filled the space with dirt ontop of a weed barrier, it left a big empty space under that we never filled… so just plan yours better!
I so do not like snakes! We have poisonous ones here the Houston TX area so I try to watch for them … I do not want bitten … and have been lucky so far not to see or find any … but I know they are out there … and now that I know the nightly wild bunny visitor might be inviting the snakes over too … yuck … oh my … sure glad I have a dog who likes to chase the bunny out of our yard .. .though I do not want her to catch the bunny!
I so do not like snakes! We have poisonous ones here the Houston TX area so I try to watch for them … I do not want bitten … and have been lucky so far not to see or find any … but I know they are out there … and now that I know the nightly wild bunny visitor might be inviting the snakes over too … yuck … oh my … sure glad I have a dog who likes to chase the bunny out of our yard .. .though I do not want her to catch the bunny!
I am a snake-phobic gardener too… I read up on this massively when I lived in a home that backed to open space… Here is what I learned…
Having a dog or cat helps, they don't like the pounding on the ground that a dog makes and cats are a snakes natural enemies so the smell of them and just them poking their curious little noses into the snakes haunts will make them move on.. The other thing about cats is that they tend to kill/scare away the mice/bunnies so again, no food source the snake moves on. There are also products on the market that you can get at home depot that smell bad that make them want to leave (I never did try these)
Also, snakes like rocks but they do NOT like cedar chips/bark.. it's not smooth and it doesn't give them a warmed surface to slither through and supposedly don't like the smell of fresh cedar. I did the cedar chips and got two kittens and saw MUCH less of the snakes in the yard. Also don't have wood piles or nice snake hiding places like overturned pots etc. They also like to live under junipers so I'd get rid of those if you have them.
I am a snake-phobic gardener too… I read up on this massively when I lived in a home that backed to open space… Here is what I learned…
Having a dog or cat helps, they don't like the pounding on the ground that a dog makes and cats are a snakes natural enemies so the smell of them and just them poking their curious little noses into the snakes haunts will make them move on.. The other thing about cats is that they tend to kill/scare away the mice/bunnies so again, no food source the snake moves on. There are also products on the market that you can get at home depot that smell bad that make them want to leave (I never did try these)
Also, snakes like rocks but they do NOT like cedar chips/bark.. it's not smooth and it doesn't give them a warmed surface to slither through and supposedly don't like the smell of fresh cedar. I did the cedar chips and got two kittens and saw MUCH less of the snakes in the yard. Also don't have wood piles or nice snake hiding places like overturned pots etc. They also like to live under junipers so I'd get rid of those if you have them.
This is a little off the subject, but I live in New England and am considering a move to the Bellaire area of Houston. However, I am HORRIBLY phobic of snakes of any kind, even harmless garter snakes. I am aware there are snakes in the suburbs of Houston, (suburbs all over the US, really) but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the chances are that I will encounter one in the Bellaire area.