Be careful in your basement!

fishhead · #21 04/19/11, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverdale

Or at least in mine! This was yesterday afternoon.

I was trying to decide where and how is was going to run some new ductwork
(I have a Michigan basement, stone foundation and walls, dirt floor) when something caught my eye on the wall.

It was a snake tucked into a spot where some of the mortar had chipped away from the stone.

Not just any snake, but a Sistrurus catenatus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus

They are protected in Michigan. I got it into a box (good thing it was cool down there), and we took it and released it in the closest (about 8 miles away) state game area.

Oh yeah, after we bought this place, we found out it was the "Rattlesnake capital of Michigan"

This is our second encounter with Michigan rattlers in 5 years we've been here.

Thanks for not killing it.

tinknal · #22 04/19/11, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

We have a somewhat odd situation here. The is a ridge south of me. Folks on the other side of the ridge say they see rattlesnakes now and then. I've check with neighbors and they said they very, very rarely see one. Why over one ridge but not of my side of it?

I'm guessing that the other side of the ridge has southern exposure (for sunning) or rocky outcroppings (for shelter) or both.

cfabe · #23 04/19/11, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverdale

About a month after we moved here, she was reading the local paper. On one side it said "Gratiot County highest unemployment in the state".
On the other "Gratiot County, Rattlesnake Capital of Michigan"

Thanks for making this post, I was not aware we had rattlesnakes in Michigan! And I live 2 miles from Gratiot County as well!

yikes · #24 04/19/11, 12:18 PM

George lived in my basement for 5 years. He left his skins for me so that I could check how big he had grown. I saw him once. We had zero mice in the house.
Wife said she wanted to do some work in the basement and George would have to go. Like a good little employee that I am to the wife, I went down, found him, put him in a box and carried him out to the woods. Two days later, I found him dead on the road. I was sad. He had never hurt anyone. My wife has never been hurt by a snake, yet she allows fear to control her life. She and I think differently on this subject.

Mulegirl · #25 04/19/11, 10:10 PM

Gah. Rattlers freak me out. They're the reason I only go walking-hiking, not climbing-hiking in the summer . . . our rattlesnakes love to sun themselves on the granite outcroppings up in the mountains. We have copperheads, too, but I've only seen them a few times. Black ratsnakes are the main ones we have, thank goodness, though once, one did fall through the ceiling in my parents' bathroom. Dad discovered it at about 3 am when he got up to use the toilet, and lo, there was this three foot snake draped across it. Fortunately, it was cold and sleepy enough that it was easy to flip it into a trashcan and toss outside.

fishhead · #26 04/20/11, 09:46 AM

I was thinking about putting a copper belly snake in my basement to eat all the spiders. I think I may go with a toad instead or maybe both.

Jerngen · #27 04/20/11, 01:21 PM

I lived in Montcalm County (shares a border with the OP for those that don't know) for decades and never saw one in all my countryside/woods wandering nor even heard of anyone seeing one. Very rarely ever saw a snake actually. The year after my wife and I moved to the U.P. my mom told me someone in the south end of the county had their dog bit by a rattler and when the lady called the DNR, they refused to kill or remove it because it was "protected/endangered".
Shocked us all because up until that point, we never even knew MI had any!!!

motdaugrnds · #28 04/20/11, 06:30 PM

Riverdale, I'm glad the temperature in your basement was cold enough for you to herd that snake into a container. I do hope you don't have a nest of those show up during warmer weather.

We have seen only 3 copper heads on our place. One was coming down the drive. It was a very small one and David chopped off its head. We still have that head son the kitchen window sill. The other 2 were both grown in the dead of winter cuddled up together under the door of our chicken house. (We believe someone put them out on us as there are people around here who have wanted this little tract of land.) That was over 5 yrs ago and nothing but black snakes since then.

We like to keep the black snakes around. They are very large now and quite friendly. Of course, I'ld just as soon they not show up over my head in the rafters; but they don't frighten me like they use to. David catches them and pets them. Goodness I still am not use to seeing that; but they don't seem to mind. (Black snakes keep poisonous snakes away because they are very territorial. This is the only reason I like them. We let them have a few eggs and all the mice they can eat.)

Fae · #29 04/20/11, 10:50 PM

This morning my DH went to the garden to work and luckily he had a garden rack in his hand. There was a small(1.5 to 2') rattle snake laying between the rows. He is dead. If it were a non-poisonous snake it could have lived but not a rattle snake or moccasin.

ChristieAcres · #30 04/21/11, 01:22 AM

I used to play with snakes as a child, never scared of them. However, they weren't poisonous ones. That said, to snake, "You or me? YOU DIE!" Fear, no, have to be steady to aim...fire...then make sure it is DEAD. After that, hmmm, might wonder how many other snakes were in the house... No, I wouldn't even think about it being endangered as I would consider myself even more endangered!

Nature_Lover · #31 04/27/11, 09:28 AM

If humans continue to kill endangered animals, our grandkids will only have pictures to admire.

It's sad that so many Americans have been brainwashed to believe that snakes are evil by their religion.

If we look at the big picture, we can accept that it's not about us and our phobias, it's about our earth's future.

I'll continue to Live and Let Live. (and relocate when necessary)

~trying to keep this post positive is hard when I feel so strongly about this subject~

fatrat · #32 05/01/11, 11:33 PM

I've seen those in Michigan. I've seen them in fields near some wooded swamps in Oakland county. Most of Oakland county is over priced mcmansions and half empty strip malls now. The DNR treats them like sacred cows. It's okay if the developers kill them but don't you even think of it or you'll go to jail.

ChristieAcres · #33 05/01/11, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nature_Lover

If humans continue to kill endangered animals, our grandkids will only have pictures to admire.

It's sad that so many Americans have been brainwashed to believe that snakes are evil by their religion.

If we look at the big picture, we can accept that it's not about us and our phobias, it's about our earth's future.

I'll continue to Live and Let Live. (and relocate when necessary)

~trying to keep this post positive is hard when I feel so strongly about this subject~

There are times when there is ZERO choice. If I am faced with me or a poisonous snake? Snake dies, sorry, and I LIKE SNAKES. If I found one, and it wasn't a threat to me, I'd call to have it removed. I also feel endangered animals should be protected. Thinking snakes are evil is silly. Keep in mind that most women are frightened of snakes, ANY snakes, also mice, rats, and all kinds of other critters. There aren't any poisonous snakes where I live, so I can pick them up without any worry. I told DH not to mess with a big rock pile with low lying blackberries growing all over it, due to the high gardening snake populace there. They are good to have around!

fatrat · #34 05/02/11, 12:09 AM

It is reasonable and wise to be afraid of a poison snake. It is not unreasonable or unwise to protect yourself from it. Sometimes, (not always) but sometimes that means the snake may have to die. That is okay. If the snake is poisonous and in my house or frequents my yard, he may have to die. To bad for the snake but I can't risk me or my loved ones getting bit. If you think that is unreasonable send me your contact information and the next time I find a rattler or copperhead I will contact you and you can come get him.

ChristieAcres · #35 05/02/11, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatrat

It is reasonable and wise to be afraid of a poison snake. It is not unreasonable or unwise to protect yourself from it. Sometimes, (not always) but sometimes that means the snake may have to die. That is okay. If the snake is poisonous and in my house or frequents my yard, he may have to die. To bad for the snake but I can't risk me or my loved ones getting bit. If you think that is unreasonable send me your contact information and the next time I find a rattler or copperhead I will contact you and you can come get him.

Since you posted after me, go read what I wrote once again. I consider it silly to be afraid of all snakes, but prudent to be wary of poisonous ones and wouldn't hesitate to take one out if it were a threat to me. That said, I would simply call to have it removed, if it was no threat to me. About fear? That invokes most people to "panic," which doesn't help in any situation. That is why I am calm during emergencies, then have my "reaction" after handling the emergencies. Envision someone running and screaming frantically over a mouse, harmless snake, rat, spider, etc... That accomplishes nothing. Yesterday, I was walking towards the shop, and saw a gardener snake, next to our sidewalk. I stopped for a moment to admire this valuable creature, smiled, feeling grateful we have so many, and then went to speak with DH in the shop. I like snakes, the non-poisonous types, especially.

Yvonne's hubby · #36 05/02/11, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nature_Lover

If humans continue to kill endangered animals, our grandkids will only have pictures to admire.

I'll continue to Live and Let Live. (and relocate when necessary)

I am sitting here thinking about brown recluse, and black widow spiders along with rattlers, copperheads, cottonmouths and wondering..... whats to admire? A picture should suffice! I am glad for you that these creatures in your neighborhood share your live and let live attitude, in my neighborhood they have a habit of not being quite so generous to their human neighbors.

fatrat · #37 05/02/11, 11:38 AM

lorichristie,

Yeah I posted after you, so what? Doesn't mean I was speaking to you. If I was I'd would have said so. But if the shoe fits wear it.

ChristieAcres · #38 05/02/11, 01:03 PM

[QUOTE=fatrat;5107460]lorichristie,

Yeah I posted after you, so what? Doesn't mean I was speaking to you. If I was I'd would have said so. But if the shoe fits wear it.[/QUOTE]

Actually, wasn't sure who you were addressing:

Quote:

I find a rattler or copperhead I will contact you and you can come get him.

Didn't you write this? You were obviously addressing "someone." That had me scratching my head, after what I wrote LOL

dragonfly65 · #39 05/03/11, 11:46 AM

Sorry, but I just lost a gosling to a snake this week. If I find it is is a goner since it knows where my birds are. I usually relocate the non poisonous ones across the road in the flood plains to hunt rabbits and mice, but the few poisonous ones I've found were dispatched. They got worse when the gas well drilling companies started dozing the wooded areas for their wells - that's how we were "blessed" with a family of skunks this winter who ate a large portion of my birds - "took care" of them too. A snake in my house would not be met well by my husband who hates them. I like the non poisonous ones - until they start trying to dine on my birds. We used to have a dog that took care of snakes for us - I sure do miss him....