Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Pesky Varmints

Which would you rather have in your yard: rats or snakes?????


This is not a game. Apparently that's the decision I'm up against. Mom says that if we keep killing the rat snakes, we're going to have a rat problem. This author agrees with her and much prefers the snake. The crazy fool actually put one in his attic as a mousetrap! The snake is not poisonous and barely even breaks the skin if it bites, or so they say. Rats, on the other hand, break the skin and carry disease.



Please vote in the poll to your right. And pray for spiritual discernment the next time I see a serpent.

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6 comments:

Steph said...

OK, I am voting twice, because my first instinct is to say- neither, move back to the city! Because this is crazy that you have CHOOSE which disgusting creature you want in and around your house.

BUT, because God has called you here, you cannot leave AND because I do not want to live here without you, my second and more rational vote is- keep the snakes...no real reason. Either way, it's sorta lose-lose. Sorry.

Steph said...

Oh, it wouldn't let me vote twice. Just so you know...1 for snakes.

Casey Cease said...

Snakes. I have been 'struck' (bitten) by a similar type of snake (red tail boa) and it doesn't hurt bad and they don't typically carry Rabies... That I know of...

- C

5 Chicks and a Farmer said...

Hi Brandi!

I'm so glad you have a blog now!Hooray!

We, too, have rat snakes. One was in our chicken coop a few nights ago when we were collecting our eggs.....at night! Yikes! It was a pretty big rat snake.

Since I'm a research junkie, I began looking into the types of snakes for our area. I was very pleased to find out that these aren't poisonous. The only poisonous snakes we have here are coral snakes, cottonmouths, copperheads, and rattlesnakes. Just typing those gives me the heebie geebies. I'm petrified of snakes. Petrified I tell you!

With that being said, here are my thoughts on this. Snakes don't particularly like people. But, rats tend to flock where there are people because that means there is food. And they can squeeze through holes the size of a small pea. I would leave the snakes.

But, I would get some cats. We have 3 litters to choose from.....hint, hint (kramerswife@hotmail.com). I really think these have helped both our snake, mice, & rat problem living out here in the country. We hardly ever see any around the houses and barn. Cats kill both, so you can't go wrong having them. They have earned the nickname 'Ninja' around here.

Wow, this is a really long comment about snakes & rats! I guess my vote is to leave the snakes. Do you have cats?

Lyns

Mommy, M.D. said...

hey lynsey,
thanks for your great comment. i would like a cat. outside only, though. we had an inside cat once and i didn't like the hair everywhere. we tried to adopt a cat a couple of months ago but it took off. we tried to keep it in the garage for a few days until it's homing instinct learned that this was home, but it ran out the first time we opened the door and we never saw it again.

maybe we could try again with one of yours and keep it in a cage in the garage for a week or so.

it's funny, i was so proud of myself for killing that dad gum snake. now i know it's a mistake. oh well, it still was an accomplishment of courage!

Erica Dirba said...

First of all, I agree with Steph that it is kind of a lose-lose situation. They're both just so gross! But, from experience, definitely stick with the snakes. Yeah, they're freaking creepy and disgusting, but at least they don't have diseases! And a cat would be really helpful! I have like 10 so just let me know if yall need one ;]