Dear Folks,
In response to the recent discussion on VA-Bird listserve on the use of
netting as a snake guard:
I consulted with the state herpetologist (J.D. Kloepfer) who confirms that
this option is harmful to snakes and should be avoided. "Snakes, and not
just black rat snakes, become entangled and seriously injured and suffer a
slow or painful death. Conical guards or stove piping are efficient
enough."
Although the intentions were good, perhaps the persons suggesting the
netting have not yet had bad experiences with snakes getting injured this
way, but if this practice becomes widespread, then the chances will be
increased. I have used 5' lengths of stove piping around the posts of my
bluebird boxes and no snake or mammal can climb up the post to the box.
Very cheap, easy to install, last forever. Simply wrap tight enough so
that a snake could not slither up on the inside. This method not only
prevents snakes from accessing the box, but also eliminates the need to
physically remove the snake. Dumping a snake out of it's territory and
into another's is also not a good thing to do.
Another problem with the netting is that it doesn't prevent a mammal such
as raccoon or squirrel from pulling it down.
Thanks.
Sandy C. Spencer, Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex
(Rappahannock River Valley, James River,
Presquile Island, and Plum Tree Island NWRs)
P.O. Box 1030
Warsaw, VA 22572
804/333-1470
804/333-3396 (fax)
Sandy_Spencer@xxxxxxx
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