To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Squirrel control with snakes
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 07:30:05 -0700 (PDT)
My recommendation of the rough green snake was for insect control as they are insectivores. They do not eat any mammals as far as I know. Ducks are a far better control, especially for snails and slugs, but may draw unwanted attention from municipal authorities. Of course toads are always nice to have around too.
From: Kieran &/or Donna <holycow@frontiernet.net> To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thursday, May 21, 2009 8:50:35 AM Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Squirrel control with snakes
Kevin, Alas, I am sorry to say that the rough
green snake is only about as big around as my finger. Not much use for
eating squirrels. They spend their time moving very slowly so as to look
like part of the bush or tree they are in. Not a very lively or
interesting snake to have around, though very pretty.
Rat snakes, by contrast, do
occasionally eat baby squirrels. I heard a squirrel having fits once
in Florida and saw a yellow rat snake slither rapidly down a branch
and launch itself into the air to fall some 15 or 20 feet. It had a long
lump in it that was certainly a baby squirrel, and the mama may have tried to
take a nip out of the snake in her distress. The lump could even have been
a whole nest full of newborn squirrels. Unfortunately these snakes seem to
prefer eating eggs, and will happily empty a nest while hardly pausing for
breath. They eat baby birds, they eat our chicken, duck and even goose
eggs, and they occasionally kill a hen or duck who happens to be in their way
and then try to swallow them head first. That doesn't work. I would
not choose snakes for squirrel control. Donna