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> * This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0101_01C9DBE5.B8EF1600 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Instant message from any web browser! Try the new Yahoo! = Canada Messenger for the Web BETA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming