Blue Racers!

Lynnette · #1 05/10/07, 07:22 AM

We are being over run with them! I have killed 1, DH has found 2, killed one, the one that was in the well pump house - underground winding it's way around a pipe while he was in there working - yeah - he freaked, he hates snakes - "childhood trauma" These are any where between 1 and 3 feet so far, I hear they can get to be 4 feet, I hate snakes! I know they have their purpose, I just wish they would fulfill it outside of our yard and places we frequent on our property.

End of the Road · #2 05/10/07, 07:54 AM

3 snakes hardly constitutes being "overrun" with them.

The only way to keep them from coming around is to get rid of their food source (mainly rats and mice) . Myself I would rather have the snakes then the vermon, the snakes don't carry any diseases that can be passed on to you or your pets, and those types of snakes are harmless.

Lynnette · #3 05/10/07, 07:59 AM

How about 3 snakes in 1 week, does that count as overrun?

We have barn cats that normally do a decent job of rodent irradication, but the rodents have increased as have the snakes as have the bugs since last year. We have gunieas to get rid of bugs and cats to get rid of rodents, I must need more cats and gunieas, I am declaring war on the snakes

GrannyG · #4 05/10/07, 08:07 AM

Boy, the name Blue Racer brought back memories of the past. Years ago, my mom had a new water heater installed. There had been a snake inside somewhere, and after it was lit, the snake slithered out, and was lenghwise against the bathtub. My mom sat on the pot, happened to look down, and Lord help us, she ran out into the yard, screaming, and trying to kick off the panties down around her feet as the neighbors ran over, and they killed the snake. She was so upset. I hate snakes.

Lynnette · #5 05/10/07, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyG

Boy, the name Blue Racer brought back memories of the past. Years ago, my mom had a new water heater installed. There had been a snake inside somewhere, and after it was lit, the snake slithered out, and was lenghwise against the bathtub. My mom sat on the pot, happened to look down, and Lord help us, she ran out into the yard, screaming, and trying to kick off the panties down around her feet as the neighbors ran over, and they killed the snake. She was so upset. I hate snakes.

Talk about reminding you of stories, my brothers had anoles "small chameleon like lizards", well they got out of the tank and one climbed up through the bathroom register while sister was sitting on the toilet, she freaked!!!!!!! We lived out in the country and we also once had a gopher loose in the house which was sitting on my chest while I was sleeping, I woke up and promptly screamed and threw the blanket and the gopher across the room, my sister once had a tree toad in her bed, and Dad would bring home gardner (sp) snakes and tell us they were bath tub toys!

fishhead · #6 05/10/07, 08:35 AM

I'm jealous. I wish I had some blue racers in my yard.

A friend of mine was sitting on the pot one day reading when he heard a noise just outside the door. Then he saw a shadow in the crack under the door. Pretty soon a furry little animal came crawling in but it moved like a strange little robot not like any mouse. He jumped off the pot in fright.

It turned out to be a crayfish that got loose and was all covered with lint.

Lynnette · #7 05/10/07, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhead

I'm jealous. I wish I had some blue racers in my yard.

A friend of mine was sitting on the pot one day reading when he heard a noise just outside the door. Then he saw a shadow in the crack under the door. Pretty soon a furry little animal came crawling in but it moved like a strange little robot not like any mouse. He jumped off the pot in fright.

It turned out to be a crayfish that got loose and was all covered with lint.

What is the shipping rate on snakes, I will send you some!

tnokie · #8 05/10/07, 09:27 AM

They don't call them racers for nothing either! Two chased my sister through two screen doors and up some steps one time. Actually she was already running into the house and they just joined the race and followed her,getting thru both doors before they slammed shut.When she stopped and turned around there they were at her feet!She let everyone know real fast!lol

MaggieJ · #9 05/10/07, 09:48 AM

Lynette, I can't remember where you are (I do wish people would add their location, at least their state or province) but if you get a winter cold enough for the snakes to hibernate, take heart! What you are seeing is likely the snakes coming out of hibernation, still drowsy, seeking the warmth of the sun to bring them back to activity. They will soon go their own way and you'll be lucky to see one all summer.

We had a good-sized rat snake on the patio the other day

and all three of us went out to watch it, enjoy it and wish it well. I wish we had ten times as many!

I love snakes, but I had a dread of spiders,

praying mantises and the like when I was young. When we moved here five years ago, I systematically desensitized myself to them and while I am still not happy

to have one on me, I can look at them calmly and even enjoy their activities. It took a long time but it was worth doing.

Lynnette · #10 05/10/07, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieJ

Lynette, I can't remember where you are (I do wish people would add their location, at least their state or province) but if you get a winter cold enough for the snakes to hibernate, take heart! What you are seeing is likely the snakes coming out of hibernation, still drowsy, seeking the warmth of the sun to bring them back to activity. They will soon go their own way and you'll be lucky to see one all summer.

We had a good-sized rat snake on the patio the other day

and all three of us went out to watch it, enjoy it and wish it well. I wish we had ten times as many!

I love snakes, but I had a dread of spiders,

praying mantises and the like when I was young. When we moved here five years ago, I systematically desensitized myself to them and while I am still not happy

to have one on me, I can look at them calmly and even enjoy their activities. It took a long time but it was worth doing.

I am in Michigan, sorry I thought I had that posted with my name! I will fix it

MaggieJ · #11 05/10/07, 10:07 AM

Oops! I missed that. I was looking on the right side where the location info usually is.

Well, Michigan definitely has enough winter to send the snakes into hibernation! Grit your teeth for a few weeks and you'll soon see a lot fewer slitheries around.

Lynnette · #12 05/10/07, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieJ

Oops! I missed that. I was looking on the right side where the location info usually is.

Well, Michigan definitely has enough winter to send the snakes into hibernation! Grit your teeth for a few weeks and you'll soon see a lot fewer slitheries around.

Maggie, you didn't miss it, I just changed it, I was going to put it on the right side but did not know how.

Gritting my teeth in Michigan :baby04:

bonnie in indiana · #13 05/10/07, 11:17 AM

It is BREEDING season for snakes. You will see lots and then they fade away.
I hate them, but usually leave them alone.

Beaners · #14 05/10/07, 11:34 AM

We saw a couple cottonmouths when the dog went swimming the other day. Of course she was oblivious and couldn't figure out why we got her out of the water. I don't mind snakes, as long as they don't bite and can't kill you. The ones that do bite and can kill you make me a little uneasy.

Kayleigh

Lynnette · #15 05/10/07, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonnie in indiana

It is BREEDING season for snakes. You will see lots and then they fade away.
I hate them, but usually leave them alone.

Yeah, but this is wierd, we have never seen them so often. I don't think we saw any last year. I haven't seen a blue racer since I was a kid, that is until recently.

MaggieJ · #16 05/10/07, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnette

Yeah, but this is wierd, we have never seen them so often. I don't think we saw any last year. I haven't seen a blue racer since I was a kid, that is until recently.

Populations of many wild creatures have a natural rhythm... sort of a wave motion with ups and downs. Could be this year they are on the crest of the wave.

Ravenlost · #17 05/10/07, 04:53 PM

Is a blue racer the same as a black racer?

I don't like snakes either, but I don't go around killing the helpful ones. We have a rat snake that is six feet long that keeps getting in the egg box. Hubby keeps taking it out and moving it (it just comes back). The other day there was a smaller rat snake in the egg box. Hubby moved it too. I guess it was almost five feet long. And the day before that I stepped on a rather quick snake out in the chicken pen. It was grey so I'm not sure what kind it is.

LOL...my first thought was I need to put the chicken nests up off the ground. Never occured to me to kill the snakes.

P.S. I googled "blue racer snake" and that is the grey snake I saw the other day. They eat other snakes so I guess we'll keep ours around!

Christiaan · #18 05/10/07, 06:21 PM

Given the fragile state of most natural areas and the ever growing impact of human population on the world I think killing snakes just because you don't like them is criminal. All snakes, not just the non-poisonous, are beneficial in keeping down the number of pests that are so successful at living with us. If you don't like them, then move them further away, but there is no need to kill them, your cats will do that often enough.

Paul Wheaton · #19 05/10/07, 07:50 PM

The blue racers are eating up all your local snake food. If you get rid of them, maybe rattlers will move in to eat the snake food.

suburbanite · #20 05/10/07, 07:53 PM

People keep those snakes as pets.

I don't know what is wrong with people, killing snakes for no reason.