Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina

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Headlines

Briefs

This week's Pigskin Pickin' results

community calendar

Cathy Best is Wayne County's top teacher

Six-year-old led off school grounds

Princeton Board debates railroad crossing closings, federal funds

Charity Golf Classic planned

Benefit of nature's roden killers

Princeton's Veterans Day celebration planned

Football: PHS tackles Mattamuskeet for homecoming

Football: RHS falls to Jones Sr.

Golf: Lady Bulldogs top NJ

Volleyball: PHS tops Rosewood at home; L. Bulldogs take two wins

Volleyball: RHS takes first conference win

Photos

This week's photo gallery

Obituaries

Inez J. Arthur, Agnes A. Batten, Rudy Best, Carl Millard Jr., Grace G. Williford, Minnie S. Hill, Mitchell K. Lindsay, Clara K. Taylor

Birthdays - Anniversaries

Movies

The Kingdom
The Game Plan
Sydney White
Good Luck Chuck

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Nature's rodent control

03 October 2007 — A snake!  Oh No!  Quick, grab the hoe.  This is the typical reaction when a snake is spotted.  Before killing the snake, consider the benefits of having them around. Most snakebites occur when somebody is trying to kill a snake.  Most snakes would rather turn and run than fight, if given the choice.  There are 37 species of snakes in North Carolina and only 6 of them are venomous.  Of the six venomous snakes, only three have habitat in Johnston County: copperheads, rattlesnakes, and occasionally a stray cottonmouth.

Most snakes, even the venomous ones, are beneficial to the environment.  They help control the insect and rodent population.  Many of the larger snakes eat small rodents, keeping them under control in many areas.  The smaller snake species eat insects, slugs and snails.  Consider the population explosion of mice and rats and the diseases they carry before killing a random snake.

Fall and spring is when most snakes are spotted, as they are moving around looking for food and a place to stay over winter.  Keeping snakes out of the home and yard can often be as simple as keeping their food supply out of the area.  Remove any piles of debris or firewood; this is where mice like to hide.  Seal up any cracks in the foundation or underpinning using 1/4 inch wire mesh or other building materials.  Keep grass mowed around residences and buildings.  Keep mulch to no more than 2 -3 inches to discourage small rodents from using it as a shelter.  After many tests mothballs and sulfur have been shown to be ineffective at repelling snakes.  

For more information on snakes in North Carolina visit this website for tons of information and pictures of snakes. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/sprsnakes.html.

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