Reducing hiding spots for snakes will also reduce hiding spots for the prey they seek, like rats and mice, she said. “Cutting the grass, removing brush and debris, and trimming the lower branches on bushes and trees will go a long way in reducing the places a snake might want to hide.”įrank said AgriLife Extension researchers are conducting experiments in the Hill Country to see what type of cover they prefer by placing out various items like lumber including sheets of plywood, sheet metal and other things that could act as potential hiding spots. “It’s best to take the habitat approach and remove the things that attract snakes,” she said. There are no chemical repellants proven to deter snakes, Frank said, but there are two things homeowners can do to reduce the likelihood of snakes hanging around a location – remove potential shelter and food.
To avoid snake bites, Frank said people should consider their location and be cautiously aware of where they step or reach, such as picking up a log for firewood. If they use it, they must make more to hunt for food, and they have to work for every single meal, so striking to defend themselves is something they would rather avoid.” “Producing venom is an energetically costly process, and they only have so much. “A snake strikes because it views you as a threat,” she said. The Texas Department of Health Services reported that half the reported bites by venomous snakes were “dry,” meaning no venom was injected into the victim. They usually give warnings – like rattlesnakes rattling – before they strike. These are things to consider when you go outside.”įrank said venomous snakes typically do not want to use their venom as a defense. When it’s hot they may be in the shade under a bush or sheet of plywood or in a brush pile. “On a cool morning, you may find a snake sunning a rock along a hiking trail or the stones in a walkway or a paved walking trail.
“People need to take these environmental conditions into account,” she said. But in the heat of the summer, they prefer shade, especially from the midday sun. It’s best to give them plenty of room and let them go on their way.” Where and when you might encounter a snakeīecause snakes are cold-blooded, they prefer sun and/or stretching out on warm surfaces like rocks, pavement and other heat-absorbing materials when temperatures are cooler. “Most bites occur when a person is trying to handle the snake or trying to kill it. “When you encounter a snake, it’s best to just leave it alone,” she said. Snakes are typically not aggressive and will escape an area if they hear someone approaching.įrank said the best ways to avoid snake bites is to watch where you step or reach and to keep your distance if you see one. There are around 75 snake species in the Lone Star State, but only about a dozen are venomous.Įven though most species are non-venomous, Frank said her best advice is to avoid contact with any snake.
While many Texans view them as a dangerous pest, they are an important predator of insects and animals. Snakes are integral to Texas’ array of regional ecosystems. There’s little to fear about snakes if a few basic precautions and principles are applied before and during an encounter. People can encounter snakes while walking trails, camping or just doing summer yard work around the house, she said. Maureen Frank, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist, Uvalde, said snakes, whether we like them or fear them, are active around the house and in their natural habitats this time of year. Rapid urbanization and higher-than-normal amounts of rain were blamed for the spike in bites, especially since they were occurring more frequently in suburban areas. Last year, several news organizations reported an increase in the number of venomous snake bites in Texas and other states like North Carolina and Georgia. It’s summertime, and like it or not, snakes are out.
0 kommentar(er)
