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Dear All, Aug 19, 2006
For 25 years I have cut firewood to 14" length and piled it, in the
woods or nearby clearings, covered with two layers of 22" wide
polyethylene held down by a layer of wood. I number of small animals
take advantage of these shelters.
For the first decade or so almost every pile, when hauled, had one
or more snake skins. As coyote sign became more abundant, snakes became
sparse and finding a skin was an event. Snakes are now making a comeback
in these woods and this year I have seen many skins And perhaps because
I hauled wood earlier than usual I have also seen many snakes.
For example today, while loading 1/2 cord of wood cut in 2002, I
found 9 snakes; all different snakes because I went out early so they
were cold and easily caught and moved away from the pile.
Almost all of the 30 or so snakes that I have seen while hauling
wood this year have been Common Garter, displaying a stunning diversity
of color variation but today there were two SMOOTH GREEN, looking like
jade carvings, and perhaps a Northern Redbelly. I noticed today that one
had a red-orange belly and marveled at the variation of Garter but on
checking, I see that Garter does not ever have reddish bellies.
Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville
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