July 2009
Black snakes are another reason there aren't many rabbits here. The state snake of Ohio, Black snakes control mice and rat populations too, and I try to protect them. I usually know if there's a snake nearby because the dogs will bark when they smell it.
About a month ago, they raised a loud commotion and I discovered a good-sized black snake 10 feet from the kennel fence. I stomped the ground in front, trying to get it to go the other direction. Nothing doing. I waved the long-handled poop shovel at it like a mad woman and that worked like a charm - the snake kept attacking the shovel. Finally, I got under the middle of it with the handle, lifted it up and flung it away. It went around the side of the building and disappeared. I suspected it was living under the building.
Owl (pictured) is the keenest on snakes but Luke isn't far behind. I've seen the two of them pulling hard against one another on each end of a black snake before. On this particular day, I heard no noise at all but found a well-chewed snake carcass lying inside the fence. The dogs were actually paying no attention to it until the sight of it caught my attention. The photo is a bit deceptive as to the length of the snake; when Owl picked up one end and dragged it, it was longer than he is. Everyone was in the kennel yard but Kasi, and I guessed that some or all of the six dogs had killed this snake very quickly and taken turns nipping the meat. I left it overnight for them to snack on.
The next morning when I took the carcass out of the yard, I was impressed yet again at how specifically and delicately canines are able to use their teeth. Six dogs had plucked nearly every bit of meat off the tiny bones and left only a hollowed-out shell, a membrane-covered skeleton.
About a month ago, they raised a loud commotion and I discovered a good-sized black snake 10 feet from the kennel fence. I stomped the ground in front, trying to get it to go the other direction. Nothing doing. I waved the long-handled poop shovel at it like a mad woman and that worked like a charm - the snake kept attacking the shovel. Finally, I got under the middle of it with the handle, lifted it up and flung it away. It went around the side of the building and disappeared. I suspected it was living under the building.
Owl (pictured) is the keenest on snakes but Luke isn't far behind. I've seen the two of them pulling hard against one another on each end of a black snake before. On this particular day, I heard no noise at all but found a well-chewed snake carcass lying inside the fence. The dogs were actually paying no attention to it until the sight of it caught my attention. The photo is a bit deceptive as to the length of the snake; when Owl picked up one end and dragged it, it was longer than he is. Everyone was in the kennel yard but Kasi, and I guessed that some or all of the six dogs had killed this snake very quickly and taken turns nipping the meat. I left it overnight for them to snack on.
The next morning when I took the carcass out of the yard, I was impressed yet again at how specifically and delicately canines are able to use their teeth. Six dogs had plucked nearly every bit of meat off the tiny bones and left only a hollowed-out shell, a membrane-covered skeleton.