If any of you have been watching the Get Ready Indiana thread you will see that we been there has been talking about snake netting for in IN landlords. My question is should northern landlords have snake netting on their poles?
Landonn
Should a Northern landlords Have Snake netting?
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Carlton
- Posts: 1959
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm
- Location: Florida/Deerfield Beach
- Martin Colony History: I moved to South Florida, from Delaware, in August of 2015.
I care for a 6 condo Sunset House as well as two Deluxe Gourd Racks, with 24 Chirpynest/Excluder gourds, along a canal in Pompano Beach, Florida.
At Quiet Waters Park, nearby in Deerfield Beach, I care for a Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 TVG's. I also care for a Deluxe Gourd rack with 12 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder entrances. I am substituting 6 Chirpynest boxes for 6 of the Conley II entranced gourds in 2026.
At another local park, Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, I care for a Trendsetter 12, 5 gourds rack with 60 Excluder gourds with Modified Excluder Entrances and 1 Deluxe Gourd Rack with 12 Troyer Vertical Gourds with Starling Stoppers over the Conley II's to keep out smaller starlings.
I have lived in northern MD as well as in DE and we have no shortage of snakes in both states. I would add the snake netting. Easy to apply and good insurance along with the regular predator guard. Even if you do not see snakes believe me they are there.
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Rich Jewell In
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Sat Aug 28, 2004 5:56 pm
- Location: Indiana Crown Point
Landonn
I've had martins for the last 5 years and no snake problems. I live out in the country and only seen garter snakes.
Rich
I've had martins for the last 5 years and no snake problems. I live out in the country and only seen garter snakes.
Rich
2006-2009 martins at a different location
2009 1 pair 3 fledged
2010 7 pair 35 fledged
2011 14 pair 51 fledged
2012 18 pair 75 fledged
2013 20 pair
2014 20 pair
2015 20 pair 86 eggs
2009 1 pair 3 fledged
2010 7 pair 35 fledged
2011 14 pair 51 fledged
2012 18 pair 75 fledged
2013 20 pair
2014 20 pair
2015 20 pair 86 eggs
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
http://www.purple-martin.org/BlackRatSn ... nLock4.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsOSthJO8So
As you can see in the pics and video above snakes don't have to be huge to get around a pole or to get around a baffle. I think most people assume that a snake will go up a pole and inside a baffle. However they are smart enough to go around them and use the seem for traction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsOSthJO8So
As you can see in the pics and video above snakes don't have to be huge to get around a pole or to get around a baffle. I think most people assume that a snake will go up a pole and inside a baffle. However they are smart enough to go around them and use the seem for traction.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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Martin man RI
- Posts: 441
- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:04 pm
- Location: MA/RI area
I use netting for all of my bluebirds around 40 pairs I trap 2-4 snakes
in the spring and summer. The netting has helped save many females
and chicks that have been lost in the 22 years of work. The black racer is common here in old fields he is the one most often caught the black rat is not
as common here but i'm am sure there out there the netting is cheap and well worth it i use trash cans which are expensive but many of my sites are pubic and if the women (golfers,school personal) would scream for days
if they seen a large snake in the netting. If you are a private home owner
you would be crazy not to protect your investment. Snakes are less common in the city. They favor powerline right a ways and old fields
where ever there are mice there favorite meals. birds being # 2.
you are more south than me and would have a larger snake issue.
there are snakes issues here even in the north east.
Lowes & Home depot have the netting cheap. Well worth it may take
years to find you but they will. Took 8 years and then i had in snake in
my Martin house. They went right up the PVC which is use less and not
worth the money. Buy the netting.
Ray
in the spring and summer. The netting has helped save many females
and chicks that have been lost in the 22 years of work. The black racer is common here in old fields he is the one most often caught the black rat is not
as common here but i'm am sure there out there the netting is cheap and well worth it i use trash cans which are expensive but many of my sites are pubic and if the women (golfers,school personal) would scream for days
if they seen a large snake in the netting. If you are a private home owner
you would be crazy not to protect your investment. Snakes are less common in the city. They favor powerline right a ways and old fields
where ever there are mice there favorite meals. birds being # 2.
you are more south than me and would have a larger snake issue.
there are snakes issues here even in the north east.
Lowes & Home depot have the netting cheap. Well worth it may take
years to find you but they will. Took 8 years and then i had in snake in
my Martin house. They went right up the PVC which is use less and not
worth the money. Buy the netting.
Ray
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
Landonn,
If it's an affordable option for you, get er done!
My first two years, I never saw a snake of any kind near my housing. I was one of those, "it'll never happen to me" landlords, regardless of all the support and advice provided on this forum. I bet 90% or better of those on the forum have also never had a devastating snake attack, but the few who have can attest to the regret and terrible loss of our summertime family members.
Last year was a different story for me.....I again didn't "see" any threatening snakes close. That is, until I came home from work one evening and witnessed a very nervous colony with martins fluttering around one side of my Lonestar Goliad. I immediately brought it down and found a 5.5 foot ratsnake coiled up in one of the top compartments, too full of 6 nestlings and one ASY to get out. I did Not relocate him - he won't be returning, but there are more where he came from. This was a devastating occurrence - I think my wife cried for 2 days, and even though not a single martin from other holes left me and I still fledged 42 within the 5 weeks afterwards, it is not worth that pain.
Here's the post from my 2010 Martin Journal...."29-Jun 10, SICKENING DAY: 5.5 foot rat snake found resting in Goliad hole #12. Pulled out and killed him, noticing the lumps in his body. Dreaded to find what we did - he'd taken out our largest cluth of six in Goliad #12. He'd eaten five, killed the 6th, and also ate one of the adults."
I sit very anxiously this year, wondering how that event might impact my colony this year, even though I've had lots of support from longtime members, who think I might be ok considering the successful fledging afterwards and since no martins abandoned me when it happened. Don't put yourself through it if avoidable!
I would think Indiana is no less susceptable to the same thing. I lived in North Dakota for 11 years. and saw my share of large snakes, so "Northern" doesn't make it any safer.
Best of luck to you this year!
Jeff
If it's an affordable option for you, get er done!
My first two years, I never saw a snake of any kind near my housing. I was one of those, "it'll never happen to me" landlords, regardless of all the support and advice provided on this forum. I bet 90% or better of those on the forum have also never had a devastating snake attack, but the few who have can attest to the regret and terrible loss of our summertime family members. Last year was a different story for me.....I again didn't "see" any threatening snakes close. That is, until I came home from work one evening and witnessed a very nervous colony with martins fluttering around one side of my Lonestar Goliad. I immediately brought it down and found a 5.5 foot ratsnake coiled up in one of the top compartments, too full of 6 nestlings and one ASY to get out. I did Not relocate him - he won't be returning, but there are more where he came from. This was a devastating occurrence - I think my wife cried for 2 days, and even though not a single martin from other holes left me and I still fledged 42 within the 5 weeks afterwards, it is not worth that pain.
Here's the post from my 2010 Martin Journal...."29-Jun 10, SICKENING DAY: 5.5 foot rat snake found resting in Goliad hole #12. Pulled out and killed him, noticing the lumps in his body. Dreaded to find what we did - he'd taken out our largest cluth of six in Goliad #12. He'd eaten five, killed the 6th, and also ate one of the adults."
I sit very anxiously this year, wondering how that event might impact my colony this year, even though I've had lots of support from longtime members, who think I might be ok considering the successful fledging afterwards and since no martins abandoned me when it happened. Don't put yourself through it if avoidable!
I would think Indiana is no less susceptable to the same thing. I lived in North Dakota for 11 years. and saw my share of large snakes, so "Northern" doesn't make it any safer.
Best of luck to you this year!
Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Jeff, I live in ND and I have never seen any snakes other than the garter snakes here. What types of snakes did you see while living in ND? I did not think snakes were going to be a problem for me.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
Dakota Lady, I spent a great deal of time hunting and fishing across North Dakota and Minnesota, and came across Bull Snakes and Garter Snakes for the most part in North Dakota. As far as I know, I don't think you have a great deal to worry about in regards to Rat Snakes. Didn't mean to alarm North Dakotans. I did however, see many more species of snakes in Minnesota, especially across the southern half.
Indiana on the other hand, definitely has it's share of Rat Snakes.
Indiana on the other hand, definitely has it's share of Rat Snakes.
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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DakotaLady
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:06 pm
- Location: Bismarck, ND
Jeff, thanks for the response. I just did not want to take my chances without netting if there were snakes around that I was not aware of. I have enough problems with the winds and storms we have. I am so hoping this will be the year that I will obtain a nice little colony.
So sorry to hear about your traumatic experience with snakes. I hope all your martins come back.
So sorry to hear about your traumatic experience with snakes. I hope all your martins come back.
~Tangula~
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
2013 - 16 pair, 79 eggs, 71 fledged
2012 - 4 pair, 18 eggs, 18 fledged
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Jeff Robinson
- Posts: 908
- Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 3:32 pm
- Location: Rogersville, Missouri
- Martin Colony History: 2008 - Current
72 Cavities - 70 Pairs in 2021
PM Mentor
DakotaLady,
Wishing you the best in getting your colony size back to where you had it before your move. Weather is Definitely one of the greatest challenges in your neck of the woods.....or....land of the shelter belts!
Thank you for the well-wishes!
Jeff
Wishing you the best in getting your colony size back to where you had it before your move. Weather is Definitely one of the greatest challenges in your neck of the woods.....or....land of the shelter belts!
Thank you for the well-wishes!
Jeff
PMCA Member - Bedrock Colony
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Guest
I have never had a snake attack here in Wisconsin. In fact, the largest snake I had ever seen near my martin houses, was promptly eaten by a red tailed hawk. They don't bother my martins. The red tails. To big. To slow. Even the martins are not even very excited when one comes near. Around here it is Coopers, sharpies and owls that are the biggest concern as far as predation goes. Snakes are not cracking my top twenty of things to worry about when it comes to my colony.
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TreeGreenwood
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:27 pm
- Location: Virginia/Catlett
For me, it's too early to be putting up snake netting. Rat snakes are lethargic in the cool weather They're hunting rodents around buildings and wood piles after basking in the sun to warm their cold-blooded bodies. They will generally avoid closely mowed open areas where they're subject to predation themselves, becoming easy meals for migrating hawks. I've seen Harriers on the move as well as Accipiters.
I don't get serious about predator protection until the weather gets hot, sometime from mid-May to early June. The snakes will have cleaned the rodents out of the woodpile and from under the shed and the grass will be growing like crazy to give them some cover. Hot weather brings greater snake activity, especially when it doesn't cool down much at night.
Right now, I'm busy getting the new gourd rack up. More accurately, I'm impatiently waiting for concrete to cure so I can.
BTW, if you keep an eye on hawks in your area, consider contributing to data collection by the Hawk Migration Association http://www.hmana.org/. Know your foe...
I don't get serious about predator protection until the weather gets hot, sometime from mid-May to early June. The snakes will have cleaned the rodents out of the woodpile and from under the shed and the grass will be growing like crazy to give them some cover. Hot weather brings greater snake activity, especially when it doesn't cool down much at night.
Right now, I'm busy getting the new gourd rack up. More accurately, I'm impatiently waiting for concrete to cure so I can.
BTW, if you keep an eye on hawks in your area, consider contributing to data collection by the Hawk Migration Association http://www.hmana.org/. Know your foe...