I have a rant that I need to get off my chest and maybe many of you have seen this before...I don't know. Anyways, I am not trying to ruffle any feathers at all, so please, do not take any of what I am saying to offense! Lets try to keep this positive and not trying to start a controversy here! This is simply my opinion backed by facts that I hope some of you at least will gain something from, that's all! If you don't agree, please don't post. If I have misrepresented something, let me know! I am very open minded and that is why I am writing the following:
So here is my two cents on the topic! You could call me a "snake lover" of sorts. They are VERY helpful at removing chipmunks and mice around my place. Venomous and Non-Venomous are welcome equally! I have done my best to seal areas they can squeeze through easily on my coop. I also have a low hot wire they must cross to get to the coop as well! I have MANY snakes around and zero problems! I primarily have black rat snakes, copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, garters, ring-necks, milk-snakes and they all serve a purpose and live different niches on and around my property. Take a moment to educate yourself about the snakes in your area and realize they are just living out a niche that nature has created. People who are formally educated about snakes such as myself do not kill them. Also, one note about relocation efforts....10 miles is a little drastic!
Seriously, some poor college student working on a genetics thesis would hate you for that!! It is more common than you think for students to be doing that kind of work in many places. Once you move such an animal a considerable distance, you have just contaminated the genetic pool in the area! Also, some species have specific traditional winter den sites and once moved the snakes will perish the following winter when they cannot find their dens! Most people don't realize this!
I simply believe that conservation, education, and understanding should be considered. Fear of snakes is actually natural and for good reason, just respect them and if absolutely necessary, move them only a short distance away such as .25 - 1 mile is adequate to keep them away.
It really frustrates me to read "The only good____ is a dead _____". Really? Think about that statement and the gravity it holds. Then educate yourself about the niche that particular animal fills. Consider what it eats and it's purpose on any given day other than when it crossed your path. Unless the species is invasive, it has a good reason to exist where it is found. I would think that it is fair to assume that most people that hate snakes also hate mice, rats, chipmunks, and the like...correct? Some of those same people will kill the snakes and then poison the rodents and in many cases end up poisoning right on down the food chain!!! Just consider what you are doing when you do something. Just because it was how you've always done it or grew up with or learned does not make it the proper way to handle something. Every action has an equal and/or opposite reaction and our impacts are greater than we generally realize.
FYI... I hunt, fish, and provide well for myself from the forests around me. My chickens are part of my chosen way of life. I will kill IF NECESSARY anything that bothers my chickens or threatens in any other way. At one time in my area and in many places around the U.S. during the past century, had no forests! Many other habitats have been similarly destroyed or disrupted also! A great number of species were lost due to wanton disregard for their value and existence. Many of these snake species, other creatures, and plants have been making a long hard comeback over the years. I simply respect what mother nature has in place and do not tamper with anything more than I need to.
So here is my two cents on the topic! You could call me a "snake lover" of sorts. They are VERY helpful at removing chipmunks and mice around my place. Venomous and Non-Venomous are welcome equally! I have done my best to seal areas they can squeeze through easily on my coop. I also have a low hot wire they must cross to get to the coop as well! I have MANY snakes around and zero problems! I primarily have black rat snakes, copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, garters, ring-necks, milk-snakes and they all serve a purpose and live different niches on and around my property. Take a moment to educate yourself about the snakes in your area and realize they are just living out a niche that nature has created. People who are formally educated about snakes such as myself do not kill them. Also, one note about relocation efforts....10 miles is a little drastic!
Seriously, some poor college student working on a genetics thesis would hate you for that!! It is more common than you think for students to be doing that kind of work in many places. Once you move such an animal a considerable distance, you have just contaminated the genetic pool in the area! Also, some species have specific traditional winter den sites and once moved the snakes will perish the following winter when they cannot find their dens! Most people don't realize this!
I simply believe that conservation, education, and understanding should be considered. Fear of snakes is actually natural and for good reason, just respect them and if absolutely necessary, move them only a short distance away such as .25 - 1 mile is adequate to keep them away.
It really frustrates me to read "The only good____ is a dead _____". Really? Think about that statement and the gravity it holds. Then educate yourself about the niche that particular animal fills. Consider what it eats and it's purpose on any given day other than when it crossed your path. Unless the species is invasive, it has a good reason to exist where it is found. I would think that it is fair to assume that most people that hate snakes also hate mice, rats, chipmunks, and the like...correct? Some of those same people will kill the snakes and then poison the rodents and in many cases end up poisoning right on down the food chain!!! Just consider what you are doing when you do something. Just because it was how you've always done it or grew up with or learned does not make it the proper way to handle something. Every action has an equal and/or opposite reaction and our impacts are greater than we generally realize.
FYI... I hunt, fish, and provide well for myself from the forests around me. My chickens are part of my chosen way of life. I will kill IF NECESSARY anything that bothers my chickens or threatens in any other way. At one time in my area and in many places around the U.S. during the past century, had no forests! Many other habitats have been similarly destroyed or disrupted also! A great number of species were lost due to wanton disregard for their value and existence. Many of these snake species, other creatures, and plants have been making a long hard comeback over the years. I simply respect what mother nature has in place and do not tamper with anything more than I need to.
