Other Methods of Eradicati 



In spring whole colonies of rattl s and copperheads can be 



destroyed if the place vhere they have wintered is discovered* Here in the 

 early days of March and April they emerge to lie in the sun and arc so 

 sluggish that they may easily be dispatched with clubs. Later on :' n spring 

 they spread out to the hillsides and fields in search of mice, small birds, 

 and other prey. Where conditions permit, numbers of hogs, if given free run 

 of snake-infested areas, will greatly reduce the snake population. Except 

 oy this method, control measures can not be applied against snakes on a large 

 scale, and each reptile has to be dealt with individually. 



!Nb successful apparatus for snaring snakes lias ever boon devised. It 

 is difficult to induce a snake to enter a trap, for it has no fixed trails and 

 lacks inquisitiveness. Some collectors have been able to capture certain kinis 

 of snakes oy tying a small frog by one leg to a stake in suitable surroundings. 

 The snake swallows the frog and is held captive -or 4 -!! digestion dissolves the 

 swallowed bait giving the trapper opportunity to return md die ose of the 

 Another method is to dig pits three or more feet deep wi ;h vertical sides 

 and place several live frogs or mice in them for decoys o Such pits should not 

 be used in any neighborhood where either livestock or hum n I - v accustomed 



to travel. Professional collectors depend almost entirely upon a forked stick 

 or a pair of iron tongs, 3 or 4 feet in length, to capture snakes. 



A few snakes, like the blacksnake (Coluber constrictor ) arid chicken 

 snakes ( Elaphc qua drivittata and Elaphe b alrdi ), enter poultry . s and barns 



in search of eggs or young birds* Snakes known to feed on eggs times 



be killed by poisoned eggs. The most satisfactory method of preparing the bait 

 is to make a small hole in a fresh egg, and to introduce through it 2 or 3 . 

 medium-sized crystals of strychnine. A piece of paper should then be pasted 

 over trie hole and allowed to dry. To prevent leaking wher : v. i oned egg is 

 put out for the snake, care should be taken to see that the part of the egg 

 with the hole in it is placed highest. This remedy will prove off .. only 



in case a snake has formed the habit of raiding hen's nests. Poisoned e 

 placed at random may never be taken and within a few days become unattractive as 

 bait. The promiscuous distribution of poisoned eggs would b« v ry dangerous 

 also, as it might cause the death of domestic animals, especially hogs. 

 Blacksnakes and chicken snakes are not very wary and appear inc h of 



detecting "doctored eggs* 11 Most of our snakes feed chiefly on li Lr _ rev, and 

 thus can not be destroyed by the use of poisoned baits. 



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