[NatureNS] Garter Snake

From: "Roland McCormick" <roland.mccormick@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <004b01c9dbb7$f65f2b20$7bc7fea9@default> <819617EF-1FF5-481E-8EA2-94F5EC0EA907@ns.sympatico.ca> <49CD199B-7E1E-48C3-961D-DA847A1FD0ED@eastlink.ca>
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 20:33:25 -0300
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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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