snakes in the cherry tree

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Stuart Johnson

We have some sort of little green snake that will show itself from time to time. I've seen them on the ground and in bushes. I was mowing on day and drove under a branch and got smacked in the face by a dangling snake. I jerked back and twisted both my neck and back. The good thing is neither caused any real problem after a day or two. The bad thing it wasn't a snake but just a snake skin. I used to think only computers hate me but now belive snakes are at least annoyed.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

CJ in MPLS

My father in law in NC used to have to release snakes from the netting over his blueberry bushes all the time. Pretty common it would seem.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Garthinsandiego

Thanks to you and your wife for helping these beneficial creatures.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

John K Jordan

I found that to discourage the birds at the blueberries instead of wrapping the bushes I needed just a few strips of mesh laid across the top. No snakes in those.

I think a mesh of some material with thicker strands than the very thin monofilament used might be kinder to snakes by not getting caught in the scales. Also, larger holes might let them go through and still keep out the birds.

JKJ

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

That is exactly what I thought.

Thanks Bill.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

Maybe they think they're lurking, unseen, in the netting to catch unwary birds. Glad you took the time to liberate them.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

John McGaw

A friend used to keep pet snakes and found that they were especially drawn to small openings when they were shedding or had external parasites -- basically scratching themselves to relieve the itch.

Snakes on a Cherry Tree......

roger lance

a possible film starring Samuel L. Jackson as courageous, eco-friendly farmer/woodworker Bill Tindall......

naw.....wouldn't work.....

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Kneale Brownson

My father used to put a net OVER his raspberry patch that was about 100 feet square to keep the birds off the berries. Apparently, they would not fly beneath. He used tall fence posts with wires strung among them to support the netting.

Re: snakes in the cherry tree

Barry Irby

I have some aviary netting left from when I built my son an enclosure for his collection of wild ducks. It's much softer than the stuff you are using and the goles can be larger if you stretch it a bit. If you would like some, let me know, I have been thinking about selling it for a long time. I will send you some free if you pay the shipping. I am guessing my piece is something like 25' by 50', but since it is pretty stretchy, it's hard to say, I have never taken it out of the bag it came in.

As an aside, about thirty years ago I decided I wanted a cherry tree. The first year it had three cherries. The birds beat me to them. The second year I put netting like yours over it. It was looking good. My wife drove the lawn mower past it and a gear that pressed on the wheel caught the net and dragged it down and stripped the tree of everything except one lone straggly limb. It was pitiful. The end of my cherry farming.

nets and mowers

John K Jordan

>>>I have some aviary netting left from when I built my son an enclosure for his collection of wild ducks....

...My wife drove the lawn mower past it and a gear that pressed on the wheel caught the net ...

If Bill doesn't want the netting I will certainly take it. Netting like that is so valuable around the farm for a variety of uses. With hatching and raising peacocks, guineas, and chickens (and hopefully turkey and quail next year) my need for enclosures is growing. I have four now, one in progress, and two more planned.

My diesel powered zero turn Kubota mower well knows how quick it can eat a net, bailing twine, and a length of electric fence tape left forgotten in the grass!

JKJ

Re: nets and mowers

Barry Irby

If Bill doesn't speak up, it's yours. I am leaving town in the morning to go see my grandson for his first birthday. I'll be back Monday.

Remind me and I will send it to you. Got to fish it down out of the shed.

Snakes in the cherry tree

Tom Colligan

I tip my hat to you, Bill, for not destroying them as I think lesser men would have.