hello out there

[jthbjr]

Texas rat snakes are one of my favorite critters. I have one living in the yard at the ranch. When I mow the grass he climbs up on the yard fence and watches me. He also likes to climb on the yard fence gate just look around. He also likes to climb the crepe myrtle trees and looks at me when I'm on the porch. I do talk to him but so far no response.
The other rat snake story involves my youngest daughter who being a bit eccentric had 2 pet rats. The rats lived in a 4 level rat cage/condo in the living room. She was living in a rent house we owned down the street from our place in town. One evening she called in a panic that there was a "giant" snake in the house and to come save her and the rats. When I arrived she was in the kitchen with a rat on each shoulder. There in the rat cage was a 4 foot rat snake waiting for the rats to return. I just picked up the rat cage and carried the snake and all out the back door. After awhile he gave up, exited the cage and went back under the house. He never even hissed. Daughter's side of the story was that she came in the house and the rats were up on the top level squeaking like heck and she opened the top door and got them and then saw the rat snake. I found a hole behind the stove where the snake came in and covered it.  But we never saw any wild rats or mice after the snake took up under the house.
So if you want to win the war with the rodents find a Texas rat snake. A a natural, organic, holistic, non toxic solution and fun with your friends.
John, sort of have summer cabin fever
In hot dry Art, Texas

[Capt Quirk]

I could share more stories with Timber Rattlers than Rat snakes. Growing up, all I ever saw were those jerk Eastern Diamondbacks. Timbers are real sweethearts.

[greyhawk]

I had a 4 foot long Texas Rat Snake  (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) that visited my shop from time to time.
Best mouse trap ever and there was no place the mice could hide it could not get them.Very docile, did not mind being handled, and saved me having to dispose of dead mice. I will admit it did startle visitors on occasion but it did not bother me.Now that is a real Texas thing!
Bunk

For me the cure would be almost worse than the disease 
Most of the snakes we see will put ya in the hospital fer sure and a pine box ifn ya dont make hospital soon enough !
Aussies like to claim about fifteen of the top twenty deadly snakes  - dunno about that but we certainly got a couple rate right at the top for deadly - better watch where ya step in the bush here anytime from september to april . I declared my camp a snake free zone and if ya break the rule ya get shot .

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[Professor Marvel]

SO Mouse Wars is the topic!

We do have some bull snakes or gopher snakes about. This spring I met one outside our front door about 3.5 feet long, with excellent "fake diamond" camo,
but clearly not a pit viper. So we chatted for a bit, altho she did not keep up her side of the conversation well at all!  I say "she" because late in the summer I
spied a litttle bitty version of her, about 10 inches long! 

I am absolutely certain of the ID because about 4 years back I was chatting with a friend in the side yard whilst (stupidly) wearing sandles, and when I looked
down at my left foot i saw a little bitty rattlesnake trying to masquerade itself as a spiral dog turd. The thing was very mellow and absolutely still .
So , having made Peace with the Snake Relatives some time ago, I fetched a large jar and punched holes int the lid, then put on boots, welding gloves and
used a snake stick to coax my little cousin into the jar. He sat quietly and only tried to smell with his tongue. I took him down to an open space arroyo about five miles away where I had been relocating Pack Rats, and told him to go have a feast.


Regarding the field mice, I tried everything except peppermint oil (dryer sheets, mint, garlic, blah blah),   thanks I'll get some and spread it liberally all over the car.

I have less respect for the field mice since I discovered they have a tendency to resort to cannablism at the drop of a hat.
So they get a warning, strong snap traps and an appology as I feed them to the ravens.
Circle Of Life, you understand :-) 
I have made lots of friends that way with the Ravens over the last years, and many seem to recognize me .


Since the mice like to get into the engine compartment and nibble on wires ( 6 fixed so far) I found the below "mouse corral : to be absolutely effective,
but a pain in the gluteous maximus in winter, I'll probably just have to put it back up.

https://ucnrs.org/mice-barrier-cars/





yhs
prof marbles

[Baltimore Ed]

Never heard of a mouse fence before. You know Professor they make a mouse control system, it?s called a yard cat. But then you?ve got little kitty footprints on your ride.

[greyhawk]

hmmm we just have mices - dont see those flag wavin cat killin ones hereabouts - the peppermint works on ours - if it dont at least yr car will smell nice

[Professor Marvel]

hmmm we just have mices - dont see those flag wavin cat killin ones hereabouts - the peppermint works on ours - if it dont at least yr car will smell nice

Oh the cats around here can stand their ground just fine

[Major 2]

Lordy don't post that , next the grabbers will want background CATS as terrorist

There is one around here, that might qualify 

[Bunk Stagnerg]

WHAT HAVE I STARTED HERE?
BUNK

[Russ T Chambers]

One of ours on the day shift protection detail

[Major 2]

That will only lead to an Arms Race

[Russ T Chambers]

I think ours was trained at some point as a Marine Sniper .  Take the high ground .

[Professor Marvel]

That will only lead to an Arms Race

Then we will recruit the bunnies

[Professor Marvel]

Oh the cats around here can stand their ground just fine

Oh yeah, this cat belonged to the famous hero of Finland ,  Simo Hayha







A finnish farmer who picked up his rifle to repel the Soviets during The Winter War.
He lost a piece of his jaw to an exploding round from a russian counter sniper, was in a coma for over a week, and when he woke up wanted to get back in the fight, but the war had ended.

[Baltimore Ed]

We?re not afraid of ?just a litt?l bunny or two? as long as we?ve got one of these!

[Professor Marvel]

We?re not afraid of ?just a litt?l bunny or two? as long as we?ve got one of these!

ONE!

TWO!

FIVE!

(Three my lord!)

THREE!