mark@ixod.org (mark t.b.

We have some unremarkably-patterned small brown snakes in a wet part of
the garden that like to hide under things on damp soil. Given that we're
in Union County, Ohio, a bit of Googling rather suggests that they're
neither endangered nor venomous, unless they've strayed far from where
they're normally found.

Still, our grass has got long, and I want to mow the lawn. Are there
people who would like to come and take the snakes away? Do people just
ignore them - will they go away from the sound of the mower, or will
they get chopped up? It would be easy if they don't like to linger in
the long grass because then they'll probably be safe. But, I know little
enough about snakes that I wonder what others would do.

-- Mark

chris mcmartin

They're probably brown snakes, also known as DeKay's snakes, _Storeria
dekayi_. See my site for pics:
http://www.mcmartinville.com/reptile...exas/brown.htm
http://www.mcmartinville.com/reptile...nsin/brown.htm
http://www.mcmartinville.com/reptile...nsas/brown.htm

These snakes are quite common in the right habitat, which includes urban backyards.


You might accidently mow some over, but generally the vibration of the
approaching mower will cause them to seek safer hideouts. Sometimes you'll
see them beating a retreat in front of or off to the side of the mower.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

mark@ixod.org (mark t.b.

"Chris McMartin" <newsgroups@mountainboomer.com> writes:
(snip)


Great site, thanks! That matches what my naive-best-guess had been. (-:


Mmmm, we have a large backyard, and they were hiding under a board
on the damp soil near the pond, which sounds about right for these.
(In a part of the garden we hadn't got around to mowing yet this year.)

(snip)


Ah, great. I'll go slowly in that area then to give them the most
chance!

-- Mark

jeannie

Yes, our Florida kingsnake hates our Kirby vacuum and used to go round
and round her cage looking for a place to run when I came near with
it.
I think she's finally gotten used to it, though.

Be sure to take big heavy stomping steps when you approach the area;
that ought to help too.

Jeannie

mark@ixod.org (mark t.b.

A small followup: I caught a glimpse of another snake while mowing
today, and it was brown with a pale thin stripe along each side of its
back. So I wonder if maybe it was a garter snake or something instead.
At least I can be fairly sure it's something evasive and harmless.

-- Mark