Gotta love those snakes that can climb slick metal straight up !

Gotta love those snakes that can climb slick metal straight up !

It must not be that hard. Saw my Father-In-Law do it last summer while we were moving some square bales.

He doesn't like snakes. Actually he is TERRIFIED of snakes. Unfortunately, he got the bale with the snake under it (5' Texas Rat Snake).

He moves pretty good for an old guy.

Flint.

best rodent control around

I"ve always appreciated having a couple in the barn.

Your FIL and I have something in common!

The [mice] gestation period is about 19–21 days, and they give birth to a litter of 3–14 young (average six to eight). One female can have 5 to 10 litters per year, so the mouse population can increase very quickly. Breeding occurs throughout the year.

Gonna have to disagree with this and I'll tell you why. There's no denying that the ones above are "good snakes" and that snakes will scarf down a rodent with a quickness. But just how often do they do that? On average, about once a week. MAYBE twice under certain conditions. Unless your place (barn or building is assumed) is crawling with snakes, they're probably not even keeping pace with the rodent birth rate.

According to wiki:



In fact, the five snakes above are taking out, on average, five mice a week. At the edge of town, that might be awesome. In the panhandle, that sucks.

On my place in the panhandle, I know the snakes on my place aren't keeping up. My 60x40 metal barn is crawling with both snakes and rodents. The snakes have had 7 years to get things under control (I've only killed four rattlers in my barn during that time) and they've failed miserably. Yeah, they'll eat a few, but they're not earning their keep.

Now it's my turn.

I bought a gamo and XLR 250 light. I sit and wait over a pile of corn next to my shed. I've killed prob 10 this year. It's good fun.

Good snakes!

Gonna have to disagree with this and I'll tell you why. There's no denying that the ones above are "good snakes" and that snakes will scarf down a rodent with a quickness. But just how often do they do that? On average, about once a week. MAYBE twice under certain conditions. Unless your place (barn or building is assumed) is crawling with snakes, they're probably not even keeping pace with the rodent birth rate.

According to wiki:



In fact, the five snakes above are taking out, on average, five mice a week. At the edge of town, that might be awesome. In the panhandle, that sucks.

On my place in the panhandle, I know the snakes on my place aren't keeping up. My 60x40 metal barn is crawling with both snakes and rodents. The snakes have had 7 years to get things under control (I've only killed four rattlers in my barn during that time) and they've failed miserably. Yeah, they'll eat a few, but they're not earning their keep.

Now it's my turn.

ETA: Of course, this also means that the snakes better stay the heck out of my barn too.

Just thought I'd add that snakes don't eat during the cold months. They'll hibernate and not eat anything for 4 months, even if the mouse is in front of them and is easy pickings.