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Shop First Aid
On March 17th many people around the world will be wearing green and
cheerfully celebrating St Patricks Day. When most people think of St Patricks Day they think of Ireland, green, leprechauns, shamrocks and of course Guinness and alcohol. But what about the snakes?
Thats right, one of the legends of St Patrick revolves around banishing snakes from Ireland. The legend says that St Patrick chased all the snakes from Ireland using a wooden stick or club. The snakes were banished into the icy cold seas and never returned to Ireland. Yes it is true that Ireland has no snakes, whether this is because it is infact an island surrounded by icy cold water and the snakes couldn’t make it there from the mainland, or the legend is true, you can decide.
If you are looking for a few ideas to help keep snakes away from your house and yard I suggest trying these, rather than chasing them with a big stick like St Patrick did.
* Keep all grass cut as short as possible
* Keep gardens simple, dense ground cover will provide hiding spots for snakes and their food like frogs, mice and skinks.
* Keep areas clean and rubbish free.
* Try and keep rodents away from the house, use traps or baits if necessary.
* Keep wood, sheets of steel or any materials up off the ground
* Reduce or remove any possible hiding places for snakes, remember they can fit through holes the size of your little finger.
* Use snake or mouse mesh around the bottom of the fences. It is s specifically designed 5mm gauge mesh that snakes and mice can’t get through.
* There are also a number of different snake repellers available that work by delivering a pulse of vibration and sound to deter the snakes from the area.
Remember that it is virtually impossible to 100% snake proof your yard. Therefore it is important to be aware of possible hiding places and be vigilant, especially during summer when they are moving around more. Make sure to take care when gardening and wear high boots when in long grass.
If you do see a snake in your house or yard it can give you quite a fright, but remember the snake is probably more frightened than you are. Stay away from the snake and let it pass and move on. If you chase them or try to harm them you are more likely to get bitten. Killing or intentionally harming any native animals, including snakes, in Australia is illegal. If you need to get a snake removed there are many snake catchers and snake handlers around in most areas. Either search the internet or contact your local council or veterinarian for contact details of someone that can help.
Until next time,
Bec
We also live in a high snake area, with browns and red-bellied blacks thick in the area.
I have been bitten by a tiger snake and by a brown – not a lot of fun. Can’t blame the tiger, as I trod on him at night time, but I was actually standing stationary in my yard (yep, short grass) and talking to my daughter over the fence when I felt myself get bitten on the leg by the brown. I just happened to be in its way.
I’m sure all of the snake fans will say I must have done something to provoke it, and I can say in all honesty I did not. I have seen browns come through the yard and strike my chickens purely because they are in their way.
I have put in snake repellers, and am happy to say I have seen less browns, but they do not work at all on red-bellied blacks, who do not care about vibration (I can testify to this, as I have a big one that lives right next to my dam pump!)
Wow Deb, I am glad that you are ok after your close encounters with the snakes, scary stuff. Thank you for sharing your experiences with the snakes at your place.
I never knew that about St Paddys Day or the snake mesh. I have read some of your other blogs and I have told everyone about them.
thank you for your informative blogs and lookk forward to reading the next one
Frank
Thank you for that lovely feed back Frank!!
St Patrick was never an Irish Saint, St Patricks Day is a metaphor for the mass murder and annihilation of Pagans in Ireland by the Orthodox Catholic Church, Bec !! Sorry to pop your bubble
Hi Paul,
This was just one of the many legends surrounding St Patrick’s Day but thank you for the extra information. Like all good stories, myths and legends over time there seems to be some embellishment. But from what I know Saint Patrick was considered an Irish Saint although he was never officially canonised by Rome, so technically is not initialled to the Saint title with a capital S, but can still be known as saint Patrick.
🙂 Bec
We live on a farm in a high snake area. Have tremendous problems with tiger snakes getting into the dog kennels. We found the snake repellers useless. We have tried everything in the world to keep snakes out and have become experts on snake behavior albeit not willingly. We have fenced the entire kennel area with four foot high tin set in the ground and snake mesh covering it. Then we have had the best results with a spray on repellent called Liquid Fence. Also tiger snakes are incredibly aggressive and often do not move away. I have been chased by more than one.
Hi Kathy. Thank you for sharing your own experiences and what works for you to keep the snakes away. I have never heard of the “liquid fence” so thank you for sharing that with all the readers. It sounds like snakes are quite a problem at your place and I hope they don’t continue to cause to much trouble for you.