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I hate to admit it, but I am afraid of snakes. As for the yellow =
jackets - my most memorable experience was when I was raking hay with a =
horse as a teenager, and the horse balked and stopped and left me =
sitting right over the top of a wasp nest.
Yesterday I was threatened by a humming bird - I think I came =
too close to a nest. She suddenly appeared about three feet in front of =
me, darring me to come any farther - we faced each other for a few =
minutes and I turned and went back the way I came.=20
Roland.
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Paul S. Boyer=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 6:53 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Garter Snake
Hello,
Come to think of it, I don't think that I have ever seen a black racer =
in the province, although I have seen them in Massachusetts and New =
Jersey. They are aptly named, for they are extremely fast, and =
difficult to catch.
As for yellow jackets, they become especially aggressive as fall =
approaches. A few years ago I was mowing, and came too near one of =
their underground nests. Several attacked me, and drove me into the =
house. I waited inside for about half an hour, and when I decided to =
get back to work, they were still waiting for me at the door! I had to =
use a different exit to go back outside.
If stung, the best remedy I have found is to apply moistened baking =
soda to site of the sting. That also helps greatly with the stings of =
the hornets who build those large, paper nests. I once had a dog who =
was stung by them several times on the nose, and the baking soda trick =
worked well for him, too. He seemed very appreciative for the relief.
=97 Paul
On 23 May 2009, at 4:29 PM, Christopher Majka wrote:
Hi all,
There are only five species of snakes in Nova Scotia. None of them =
are venomous. Both Northern Ringneck Snakes and Northern Redbelly snakes =
have a "ring" around their neck, although that on the Ringneck Snake =
tends to be more obvious. There are no authenticated records of Black =
Racers anywhere in the Maritime Provinces, although it is possible that =
they may occasionally make their way into areas of extreme southwestern =
New Brunswick (they do occur in Maine).=20
Technically an "asp" would refer to the Common Asp (Vipera aspis), a =
venomous snake found in southern Europe. More generally Vipers (genus =
Vipera) are a genus of venomous snakes found throughout much of the Old =
World. The word is sometimes used poetically to refer to any venomous =
snake, none of which are found anywhere in Atlantic Canada.=20
Paul is right: the most fearsome creature of the woods here may be =
the yellow jacket (Vespula spp.). My spouse was once stung 12 times =
while gathering raspberries. It's an experience she won't soon forget =
... ;->
All the best,
Chris
On 23-May-09, at 12:05 PM, hghgh wrote:
Hi Roland the snake with the ring around it is ringnecked snake . =
Gater snakes are the only ones that bit. I have handeled snakes all my =
life and the only way to savely hand a gater snake is to grab it behind =
its head on the neck . I only been bit once and I was lifting a rock =
were one had young, it was a big snake and it did hurt it drew blood . =
But if you do not know much about snakes its best not to try to pick one =
up all the best Peter
-----Original Message-----
From: Roland McCormick <roland.mccormick@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Saturday, May 23, 2009 11:46 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Garter Snake
Hello Paul -
What about the small black snakes with a ring around the =
neck? I understand they are asps and not snakes, but what is the =
difference? I have found two or three dead ones in my driveway, and I =
once saw a live one when we moved some old wagon parts.
I don't think I would trust any black snakes. I have seen a =
few big ones I would prefer to stay away from. In my present home I see =
mostly brown or green garter snakes.
Roland.
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul S. Boyer
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Garter Snake
I believe that there are no venomous snakes in Nova Scotia. =
However, even garter snakes can bite, and their tiny, little teeth can =
even draw blood. (I have had that happen to me.) Although cold-blooded =
animals do not carry rabies, the oral hygiene of a garter snake may be =
such that its bite could transmit lots of interesting bacteria, so I =
would handle the snake with gloves.
Garter snakes have longitudinal striping, and are not really =
brown (unless they have not shed the skin for a long time).
Isn't it possible that the snake got into the house in some =
other room, and then slithered into the bathroom by chance? It might =
have been hiding somewhere else in the house, and was merely looking for =
water. In any case, it really belongs outdoors.
A foot long is small for a snake. I don't think that there is =
any rational reason for fear of any snake in the province, although =
their movement can startle people. The most dangerous animals around =
are probably stinging insects such as yellow jackets (who are especially =
aggressive in the fall), and bears (if you ever find any).
=97 Paul
On 22 May 2009, at 10:59 PM, Gayle MacLean wrote:
Hello All,
Had a strange occurrence happen today.
My husband found a garter snake in our bathroom this =
evening. How it got there I have no idea! I just can't fathom where it =
might have come in!
Along a radiator pipe maybe?
I was working at the time so unfortunately I didn't get =
to see it.
He described it as a BIG (a foot long or so) brown =
snake. Sounded like a garter snake to me which we see around the yard =
every summer.
Anyway, he picked it up by the tail and threw it out the =
door.
I can just imagine his expression! He said the sweat was =
just pouring off him. =20
He was not amused.
Gayle MacLean
Dartmouth
=20
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