This morning I woke up with a whole new determination. We moved into snake territory. We’ll never get rid of them but they’re not going to chase me away. I will not go outside with flip flops again . . except to walk from the house to the sewing room and that’s all gravel. I will stay out of the garden til my new snake boots arrive. I will still be careful and I will keep a watchful eye but I will not give in to the creatures who are native to my area and were here before I got here.
I will not give in . . I will not give in . . 🙂
suzanne says
Well….I am deathly afraid of snakes, even worms…and yes they were there first…but darn is there not some type of something to keep them at bay…say out of your yard? What about snake away stuff that smells horrid but keeps them out of your yard, or living space.
Oh, I just felt sick at my stomach when I went back and read about what happened. I think late evening and early morning are when you need to be the most careful.
My resolve would be they could stay, but stay away from my yard….find a better place to stay!!! LOL
Hilary McDaniel says
I have learned to look at the critters as part of the joy of rural living. We don’t get the nasty roaches city dwellers do. Every lifestyle has trade offs It’s still worth it. We’ve had an over abundance of scorpions this yr. I hadn’t seen one since I moved here in 2003. Next year will be better.
Karen says
Good for you! Don’t know that I am that brave but glad that you are. Love reading about your place.
Norma says
Judy, where was your camera? I can’t believe you let a picture taking chance like that slip by lol.
Amy @ Heritage Homemaker says
good girl! Dont let those nasty critters win.
LadyBaltimore says
I like what Hilary said “next year will be better”. They’re saying because of the really warm winter and early Spring this year, the bug/insect/crawly things population was going to explode this summer. I’ve been bitten by spiders (I think) this summer more times than I care to count. I love your “pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again” attitude. Next summer will be better! I hate snakes though – I believe I’d be buying thigh high snake boots and carrying that hoe every time I walked aways from the house.
Diana in TX says
Amazing what a good night’s sleep will do! As you said you just need to be a little more vigilant. We’re always a little more careful when at our firends place in Brady. It’s rocky ground and we know there are rattle snakes there. Since the guys have been keeping it mowed around the house better we haven’t seen them close to the house, but you never know. The shed is open, big stack of wood for the fireplace, another reason Tilly and Tiki are now getting shots for rattle snake bites. If Tilly sees something move she will more than likely go after it, Tiki on her own would not. So we’re all a little more careful!
Shirley says
A new day and a better attitude. You will survive with attitude. I’ve heard that Peafowl and Geese are good to keep snakes away. They do not like them in their territory so they harrass them until they go away. I’ve never had Peafowl but I do have one goose. Her name is Lucy and she is a doll.
Norma says
Go, Judy! You can do this!
Kim Paventy says
Hey Judy! Rattle snake is really good fried up like chicken!
JudyL says
Yes, when I yelled that there was a rattlesnake, Vince said “What do you want me to do with it?” I said BBQ or fried and he thought I was joking but I do like it but he wouldn’t skin it and I surely wasn’t going to do it.
Kim Paventy says
I don’t blame you one bit for not wanting to skin it, they stink! (not like clove oil) When we lived in AZ and got a snake it was skinned and cleaned outside and brought into me to fry it up.
Mel Meister says
Yep.. I’ve had fried rattlesnake and it was very good.
Ava Crotinger says
Good for you, Judy. I grew up in Texas – snakes and all. The stickers are what I still have prickly memories of.
Didn’t someone here talk about getting a donkey (just one) to help with snakes? I’ve also seen a canned product called Snake Away. I don’t have any experience with it, but it might be worth researching.
Perry says
Didn’t read all of the comments, so this may have been mentioned. Snakes, as a rule, are as afraid of us and we are of them. If you make noise as you walk , sing, whistle, something on that order, that will help. Also, put moth balls around the entrances to your house. That keeps the scorpions at bay. Geese are also helpful. There should be lots of info online I would think. The drought you are having is also a factor. The creatures are seeking water and cool spaces.
vickie van dyken says
Well I do know that I have eaten rattlesnake, and it was good. The meat was clear…we barbequed it . I still don’t like them…yuk!! They get into places where they shouldn’t be and that is scary. I think maybe it’s a matter of time and dealing with them. You know people in Cali get used to earthquakes, the midwest tornado’s, maybe in TX it’s snakes and spiders….don’t get complacent 🙂 That would be easy to do after awhile….Stay on guard and be safe. I think you will get accustomed to them but stay vigiliant!! I am happy that I only deal with rain 🙂 makes all those gloomy days seem not so bad!!!
Vickie
Jill says
When I was a kid we had rattle snakes that wintered under the garage. Mom hated them and all snakes. I don’t think they bothered Dad much. We would see them in the early spring and late fall, most of the rest of the time they were out hunting(summer) or sleeping(winter). Mom raged war against them killing many and when they finally moved on the mice and voles moved in. The voles destroyed the lawn. The mice kept trying to move into the house. It’s always something. Just be cautious. They don’t like you anymore than you like them…if they just weren’t so darned startling!
Angie says
It’s always something when you live in the “country”. From what I’ve read, and seen locally in Sonoma County. Rattlesnakes can be sidetracked with Guinea hens and geese. I know the local wild life preserve in west county that has a rattlesnake population (we do not) use these hens and geese (roaming free) to deter snakes. I would do some online research.
Also, if you have mice or rats nesting and eating on your property, (they like compost piles and chicken pens where they can eat the chicken food and recycle peelings, etc )—then the snakes are being drawn to the mice and rat population. That’s their food! It’s a vicious circle of life sort of thing. If you have rocky dry property, it is also going to be hard to deter snakes. They love to bask in the sun and heat certain hours of the day. For insects exterminators are the best. They do have pet safe extermination products they use.
JudyL says
I’m not getting guineas or geese so, no matter what they do, at least for now, they’re out of the question.
This is Texas and there are rattlesnakes whether we have mice or rats or chickens or geese.
Because of the problems Speck has already with his colin and stomach, we don’t use anything . . pet friendly or not, inside the house.
Mel Meister says
(((((((Judy)))))) That’s the best hug I can offer over the internet. You can do it!!!