Hello Jim,
Thanks for the info re cats. Not to worry, all our cats are kept indoors
with a 40x20 foot cat-proof outdoor yard accessable from their part of the
house. My dogs are kept in a 2 acre fenced and cross-fenced space with
appropriate dog housing. Feral dogs also can be problems for the
environment, depending on location and #'s. Of course, any animal that gets
into the dog yards is at great risk, including snakes. I have found dead
coral snakes there. They are very deadly but with short teeth/fangs
requiring them to "munch" on prey so dogs are not at such great risk as they
are with rattle snakes. I have had dogs killed by rattlers. Also have
found rattlers in the dog yards. Then, I get a long pole and gently edge
the snake out of the dog yard into the surrounding woods. They then go on
their way very nicely. I think snakes are very beautiful and graceful and
enjoy watching them. I don't understand why people are so intent on
destroying them. I've come across people on a country road busily trying to
beat a snake to death, even non-poisonous types. They are not going to
exterminate snakes, thank goodness. And, of course, snakes occupy a very
important niche in the ecosystem.
Well, I've gone on too long - and haven't even taken a crack at "hunters" !
:-)
Ray
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