Posted on 08/16/2005 8:56:09 AM PDT by T-Bird45
Perhaps there are more snakes because of the decline of predators or something else that keeps them in check (disease?)
Maybe a Spring increase in what they eat, they got their fill earlier than usual and are already ready to hibernate?
A wetter or drier than normal year that moved them from their normal habitat?
An impatient and spoiled generation of snakes because their lib parents refused to whip them?
So many possible explanations...
Leaves are turning here in Iowa, but that is partially do to the drought. The willows are dieing.
One month early.
After a week of temps in the 90's and Saturday topping 100, we got some rain and yesterday the temp didn't make it to 70.
Hawks and eagles are probably the number one snake predictors. There are more of these birds today than 25 years ago...
Quick! Check Howard Dean's schedule,
I thought the Senate DIMRAT caucas met in Washington???
Oh, that's right, Dillbo was from ARK. I guess he scr*wed things up good down there . . . got all that slithering and slathering all confused.
Nearly 100 of the snakes are using a cedar tree as a sort of meeting place
Cedar tree? I thought the DNC just built new headquarters.
Dubya's got a chainsaw he can borrow to cut down that cedar tree. (BTW I never knew that copperheads were social, or is it only Ark. copperheads that do?)
We've seen more copperheads than usual this past week. I don't know if it is the rains we've had or what, but I almost stepped on one getting equipment out of the shed.
They usually stick to the wooded areas and not open space.
Same here in the N.W.!
Might be time to lay in some extra bottles of Hooch and munchies into the cellar!
bttt
Leaves are falling in Seattle already.
That was my first thought as well.
Is there an unusually high number of household pets missing?
Earthquakes are preceded by increases in the number of reported dogs and cats in local newspapers. I've never heard of snakes moving early, though.
Compare this editorial cartoon to the MSM coverage of the anti-war movement of today, and you can see just how far civilization has declined };-)
I was never aware of it either. I knew rattlesnakes 'denned' up, but I had never thught of other snakes doing so. I have always tried to avoid ANY snakes.
I know in some parts of the country, feral hogs do a pretty good job of supressing adult snake populations.
Around here Ive seen turkeys eating baby snakes and I suspect that a flock of 70 or so turkeys hunting its way through a field in spring does a lot more to supress populations than the local hawk population does all year.
Then there was this guy I new from New Mexico...
Using various high tech tools at my disposal (sniffing the air for a unique smell preceeding winter, shape of persimmon seeds, skunk activity, rabbit coats, etc) Im thus far predicting an early winter and more snow than usual for my area. Still receiving conflicting information on temperature.
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