Theres recently been a lot of construction near my neighborhood. (A few hundred homes are being built) The pigme rattlesnakes natural habitat is almost completely destroyed and they seem to all be moving to my neighborhood. 3 of my neighbors reported finding them in their garage in the past 2 day. I have very small dogs and one bite would kill them in seconds. Any suggestion?
2006-08-09 15:29:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Call the police. Seriously. They will put you in touch with the correct people, maybe somebody from a "Natural Resources" department in the government. Somebody should be notified as soon as possible. If the police can't help, call City Hall, or call the local TV station -- anybody who will listen to you and investigate.
I have heard of this in other areas, particularly where cottages were being built. They brought in people who actually caught as many snakes as possible and re-located them to another area where they could live without endangering anybody.
Good luck.
2006-08-09 15:37:28 · answer #1 · answered by LaRue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is sad that all of the pygmy rattlers habitat has been destroyed. Of course they will move out to the surrounding areas & will most likely eventually die.
The best way to have prevented the rattlers from entering your land was by stopping the construction & leaving them a home.
Unfortunately the damage has been done. These snakes need a very specific environment to survive. They will continue to cross your property until they have found a new home or they have all died.
Contact your local reptile club or society (do a google search), They may be able to help. Unfortunately transplanted rattlesnakes don't do well in their new homes.
Good luck & stay safe.
2006-08-09 15:44:51 · answer #2 · answered by carl l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spread lime in a small 3 inch wide path around your yards. Snakes are highly irrated by it and wont cross over it most of the time. Thsi can be bought at Home Depot or any lawn care store. With the construction they are scared and looking for new homes. Might also want to call animal control and see if they can set traps to humanely relocate.
2006-08-09 15:39:14 · answer #3 · answered by Answerkeeper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently you can train your dog to avoid them.
"We use an electronic collar so if the animal gets close to the snake...then it receives a mild shock and learns to make the association between the snake and staying away from it."
There's also a vaccine that can be given them if they are bitten.
My mother survived a rattlesnake bite when she was a child.
2006-08-09 15:38:23 · answer #4 · answered by Ginger/Virginia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much about them, we have huge rattlesnakes in MS. I don't know that there is anything to do to get rid of them except kill them if you see them. Call your local exterminator and see what they suggest. Be careful, my Lab/ German Shepard mix was bitten by a water moccasin and he nearly died. He weighs about 80 pounds, I can't imagine what a bite would do to a very small dog.
2006-08-09 15:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one thing, keep a garden hoe by your door. It would be awful if you saw one and couldn't kill it before it hid somewhere around your home - to come out later when you weren't expecting it!
I can't believe they didn't do something at the construction site to get rid of them. Can you call the owner/contractor and ask him to do something now?
2006-08-09 16:08:35 · answer #6 · answered by NANCY K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is going to sound insane, but moth balls work to keep snakes away. They also work to help with flea's since you have dogs. Good luck with the snakes, I know we had a copperhead nest here, and they got one of our neighbor's cats.
2006-08-09 15:41:26 · answer #7 · answered by Kim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try spreading moth balls in corners or where you have seen them . watch the dog
2006-08-09 15:39:58 · answer #8 · answered by mr_jim51 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋