I have some large rat snakes that live in the trees in my back yard. My son found two of them fooling around on the ground and I shot a little video of them getting back in their respective trees...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKaA8vWmTc8
Video of Rat Snakes Climbing Trees
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Chriscreole
- Posts: 781
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 9:31 am
- Location: Texas, Hutto
My two Jack Russells would have killed those snakes as soon as they saw them. Anything that moves in my yard they get. Ouwie-Gator, she has got 9 rabbits and 3 possums already.
PMCA Member since 2010
Super System 24, All Troyer W/Conley 2 entrances.
Those snakes are HUGE but beautiful and they have the right to live.. If even one of those got up into a colony, the results would be devastating.. just awful. Im glad you allow them to live too. They are good fellows and I hate it if I have to kill one.
If you have a colony close by but do not want to ever have to kill these guys, maybe an elevated electric predator guard would be good and safer for your birds than a baffle. I have heard too many stories of snakes beating baffles.
Thanks for the video.
If you have a colony close by but do not want to ever have to kill these guys, maybe an elevated electric predator guard would be good and safer for your birds than a baffle. I have heard too many stories of snakes beating baffles.
Thanks for the video.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
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Guest
The trees are on the edge of a forest and there are quite a few starling nests in those two trees (lots of old woodpecker holes). They would have to cross about 200 feet of open field to get to the PM houses and we have a few large red tail hawks patrolling. I doubt they would risk the crossing...
If you don't have predator guards on your Martin housing, those snakes will likely predate on your colony. Two snakes that large could wipe out several nests in one night, causing the whole colony to abandon your site. My intention is not to sound harsh, but your situation is like playing with a loaded gun. Two hundred feet is a 30 second crawl for the snakes and I assure you the hawks will have no effect on the snakes at night.......
You can find numerous posts on this forum documenting the damage a snake can do to a Martin colony. Simply put, if you don't have good predator guards, you are putting the Martins nesting in your care in jeopardy.
You can find numerous posts on this forum documenting the damage a snake can do to a Martin colony. Simply put, if you don't have good predator guards, you are putting the Martins nesting in your care in jeopardy.
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Paul Stein
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:28 am
- Location: Georgia/LaGrange
I agree with Brad. I used to have mercy on snakes but not anymore. I found a rat snake in my neighbors yard a few years ago and "released" it into the woods several hundred yards away from the gourds. The next afternoon I found it in a gourd on the rack with 3 little martins in its belly. Don't underestimate how well they can climb. Some practice catch and release with rat snake but I will not. As the saying goes there is only one kind of good rat snake- you know the rest. I am sure some will whine but thats my opinion. Others can save all they want to and thats great too. But they will come back to "bite" you.(haha) Paul
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Guest
My point was that there are a lot of food sources much closer and easier but I do know that you are right about installing snake netting. It has been on my To Do list for the past few years but I haven't made it happen yet. I will move it up the list. I will not kill them. Those two have been back there for quite a few years and they help keep the starling population down. We also have seen garter snakes and black racers this year (and a very large snapping turtle that lays her eggs in our garden every year).
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3789
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
There probably isn't a food source that is easier for the snake then your martin nests. They can climb easily and then there are houses full of babies that cannot get away. They don't have to chase them or worry about them fighting back. Don't think that because they are 15 foot in the air the snakes won't see them as an easy meal. It is not "if" but "when" if you have those to guys living on your property and no snake guards.
2026 HOSP 27
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.
Also Wolf. If you don't want to ever have to kill them, netting will make that necessary when they get caught in it or they will just simply die in the netting over exerting themselves trying to get free.
A good BIG baffle will work if properly applied because this would just make them turnaround and give up with an electric guard being the most dependable.
If properly applied and charged, They'll touch it once and once only. hahaha.. then go away.
With snakes of the size I saw on your video, eventually, one will make a run up your Martin pole at night at some point. When that happens, the results WILL BE DEVASTATING to The Martins. Those are HUGE bird eating snakes.
I bet a good electric guard and/or baffle will allow you to have both like you want.
A good BIG baffle will work if properly applied because this would just make them turnaround and give up with an electric guard being the most dependable.
If properly applied and charged, They'll touch it once and once only. hahaha.. then go away.
With snakes of the size I saw on your video, eventually, one will make a run up your Martin pole at night at some point. When that happens, the results WILL BE DEVASTATING to The Martins. Those are HUGE bird eating snakes.
I bet a good electric guard and/or baffle will allow you to have both like you want.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged