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sometimes used poetically to refer to any venomous snake, none of whic --Apple-Mail-3-667897642 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello, Come to think of it, I don't think that I have ever seen a black racer =20= in the province, although I have seen them in Massachusetts and New =20 Jersey. They are aptly named, for they are extremely fast, and =20 difficult to catch. As for yellow jackets, they become especially aggressive as fall =20 approaches. A few years ago I was mowing, and came too near one of =20 their underground nests. Several attacked me, and drove me into the =20 house. I waited inside for about half an hour, and when I decided to =20= get back to work, they were still waiting for me at the door! I had =20 to use a different exit to go back outside. If stung, the best remedy I have found is to apply moistened baking =20 soda to site of the sting. That also helps greatly with the stings of =20= the hornets who build those large, paper nests. I once had a dog who =20= was stung by them several times on the nose, and the baking soda trick =20= 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 =20 > are venomous. Both Northern Ringneck Snakes and Northern Redbelly =20 > snakes have a "ring" around their neck, although that on the =20 > Ringneck Snake tends to be more obvious. There are no authenticated =20= > records of Black Racers anywhere in the Maritime Provinces, although =20= > it is possible that they may occasionally make their way into areas =20= > of extreme southwestern New Brunswick (they do occur in Maine). > > Technically an "asp" would refer to the Common Asp (Vipera aspis), a =20= > venomous snake found in southern Europe. More generally Vipers =20 > (genus Vipera) are a genus of venomous snakes found throughout much =20= > of the Old World. The word is sometimes used poetically to refer to =20= > any venomous snake, none of which are found anywhere in Atlantic =20 > Canada. > > Paul is right: the most fearsome creature of the woods here may be =20 > the yellow jacket (Vespula spp.). My spouse was once stung 12 times =20= > while gathering raspberries. It's an experience she won't soon =20 > 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 . =20 >> Gater snakes are the only ones that bit. I have handeled snakes all =20= >> my life and the only way to savely hand a gater snake is to grab it =20= >> behind its head on the neck . I only been bit once and I was =20 >> lifting a rock were one had young, it was a big snake and it did =20 >> hurt it drew blood . But if you do not know much about snakes its =20 >> 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 =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, =20 >> 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 =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 =20 >> cold-blooded animals do not carry rabies, the oral hygiene of a =20 >> garter snake may be such that its bite could transmit lots of =20 >> interesting 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 =20 >> have been hiding somewhere else in the house, and was merely =20 >> 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 =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 =20 >> are especially aggressive in the fall), and bears (if you ever find =20= >> 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 > > > > Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> | Halifax, Nova Scotia, =20= > Canada > > * Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum | = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm > * Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin | http://=20 > www.coleopsoc.org/ > *