Through all my years of keeping first aid kits, either in vehicles or in the house, I’ve never had one of these:
Snake Bite Kit
Though I hope we never need it for the snake bite, I figure the odds are becoming greater each day that sooner or later, one of us may get bit.
We also bought bags and bags of moth balls. Some say putting them around the chicken coop, but out of reach of the chickens, will deter snakes. Some say it won’t but I figure it’s worth a try. Some said to put an electric wire around the coop, but also out of reach of the chickens but there’s too much dry grass and we have too much risk already of wild fires, I’m not willing to take a chance on a spark causing a fire.
We’ve checked the coops and can’t find a place where snakes are getting in, except through the chicken door, which remains open during the day so they can go in and out of the coops. We’re checking the coops in the evening when the chickens go in to be sure there are no snakes and we’re not closing the chickens and the snakes up in the coops.
About the time I think the snakes are going to send me packing, last night while finishing up dinner, we sat at the table and watched the wild turkeys out wandering around and this morning I walked out with Speck and there was a big old jack rabbit just outside the fence. When I first caught a glimpse of it, I thought it was a fawn but then saw the huge ears. This is still a fun and interesting place to live . . so long as I’m wearing boots and have a pistol within reach and a shovel in my hand!
liz says
Do you have an epi-pen? If you have a reaction to a sting, it’s better to be ready and not rely on getting to a hospital in time. Since I’ve had a reaction to sulfa drugs and a mild response to a bee sting, I have one and get it updated when necessary.
But, I think for the snakes, I prefer the shovel or gun method of taking care of the critters.
Keryn says
Consider yourself lucky that you have some snakes that aren’t poisonous. Nearly all our Australian snakes are deadly, so I’m never glad to see one. You sound like a real Texan, with your boots and gun; you’re naturalised now.
Barbara says
Friends were over yesterday helping me clean up leaves and brush..
She raked some leaves and called to her husband that she saw a snake…he came running, pulled a gun out of his pocket and done…he said he is always prepared.
They have lived out here in the country forever and told me if I put mothballs around it would help. I don’t know if it works, but I think it is worth a try!
They saw several holes in the ground and said they could be snake holes and for me to put some of the mothballs in the holes.
Sandi B says
Our pest control guy told us to put mothballs out to repel the snakes, also. We put them out and haven’t seen any evidence of any. I don’t like the copperheads, rattlers, or Arkansas stick snakes. Ugh!
Helen Koenig1 says
Judy – that last paragraph – and you sounded like a true pioneer woman – liking to pioneer but always ready with your six-shooter and shovel! LOL
Seriously though, I’ve also heard about mothballs keeping away snakes. Definitely worth a try!
Sandy says
Mothballs do not keep snakes away! Read this page:
http://npic.orst.edu/pest/snake.html
JudyL says
I had read that moth balls work and I had read they didn’t work. At this point, I’m willing to try anything though so I’ll try it and see what happens. If I don’t see snakes, I won’t know for sure that the moth balls are working but if I do see them, and I’ll be on a constant vigil, I’ll know they don’t work.
Barbara says
I’ll also chime in and say that many people told me mothballs will repel snakes. I have garter snakes, and while harmless, I apparently have a phobia of them and I’ve been unwilling to step into my yard for a few years. I think the problem has been solved, the den was located and sealed.
I didn’t use mothballs, I have a dog and he eats everything, and mothballs are poisonous to dogs. IIRC, Speck goes out on a leash, and your yard is large enough to have a place for Speck away from the mothballs. I live in the suburbs, and my dog would be unhappy on a leash, as would I!
Once of my friends, a chemist, did a little research on Snake Away brand snake repellent and said it is basically mothballs and grit, and internet searches show a combination of mothballs and kitty litter as a snake repellent.
Cathy Smith says
I grew up in Houston and we had a huge field behind our house that had wild blackberries that overtook it every spring. Our problem was rattlers. I cannot even begin to tell you the number of rattlers mom had to kill. The worst of which was a huge one coiled up on the back porch. Just EWWWWW…..I feel for you!