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Index of Subjects --Apple-Mail-2-649125664 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Roland, I think that you refer to the Eastern Ring-Necked Snake, and they are =20= snakes =97 no doubt about it. They like to live under rocks or pieces =20= of bark and similar debris, and they eat earthworms, salamanders, and =20= insects. They are completely harmless to humans. I have handled =20 them, and they don't even seem to bite, but only wish to escape. They =20= are quite delicate and attractive. The large black snakes you see are entirely trustworthy: you can rely =20= on them to race away from you if disturbed. They eat mostly mammals, =20= so that makes them "good" snakes (depending how you feel about =20 rodents). I am sure that if you were fast enough to grab a black =20 racer, it would turn and strike at you; but that is surely justifiable =20= self-defense. =97Paul On 23 May 2009, at 10:40 AM, Roland McCormick wrote: > Hello Paul - > What about the small black snakes with a ring around the =20 > neck? I understand they are asps and not snakes, but what is the =20 > difference? I have found two or three dead ones in my driveway, and =20= > 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 =20 > few big ones I would prefer to stay away from. In my present home I =20= > 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. =20 > However, even garter snakes can bite, and their tiny, little teeth =20 > can even draw blood. (I have had that happen to me.) Although cold-=20= > blooded animals do not carry rabies, the oral hygiene of a garter =20 > snake may be such that its bite could transmit lots of interesting =20 > bacteria, so I would handle the snake with gloves. > > Garter snakes have longitudinal striping, and are not really brown =20 > (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 =20 > room, and then slithered into the bathroom by chance? It might have =20= > been hiding somewhere else in the house, and was merely looking for =20= > water. In any case, it really belongs outdoors. > > A foot long is small for a snake. I don't think that there is any =20 > rational reason for fear of any snake in the province, although =20 > their movement can startle people. The most dangerous animals =20 > around are probably stinging insects such as yellow jackets (who are =20= > 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 =20 >> it got there I have no idea! I just can't fathom where it might =20 >> 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 =20 >> 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 =20 >> pouring off him. >> He was not amused. >> >> Gayle MacLean >> Dartmouth >> >> >> >> >> Instant message from any web browser! Try the new Yahoo! Canada =20 >> Messenger for the Web BETA > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.37/2130 - Release Date: =20 > 05/23/09 07:00:00 --Apple-Mail-2-649125664 Content-Type: text/html; charset=WINDOWS-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Roland,<div><br></div><div>I = think that you refer to the Eastern Ring-Necked Snake, and they are = snakes =97 no doubt about it. They like to live under rocks or = pieces of bark and similar debris, and they eat earthworms, salamanders, = and insects. They are completely harmless to humans. I have = handled them, and they don't even seem to bite, but only wish to escape. = They are quite delicate and = attractive.</div><div><br></div><div>The large black snakes you see are = entirely trustworthy: you can rely on them to race away from you if = disturbed. They eat mostly mammals, so that makes them "good" = snakes (depending how you feel about rodents). I am sure that if = you were fast enough to grab a black racer, it would turn and strike at = you; but that is surely justifiable = self-defense.</div><div><br></div><div>=97Paul</div><div><br><div><div>On = 23 May 2009, at 10:40 AM, Roland McCormick wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: = rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; = font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; = line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; = text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" = style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><font face=3D"Arial" = size=3D"2">Hello Paul -</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" = size=3D"2"> 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.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" = size=3D"2"> 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.</font></div><div><f