Margaret Holm
As owner of a small rural property I’m amazed at the wildlife I see at my place so close to Penticton. I found bear and coyote scat near the fence line this morning, a gopher snake in the chicken coop, and a wild cottontail rabbit munching on the grass.
A few years ago, a stench coming from a storage area necessitated cleaning the area up to find out what had died. A snake had gotten tangled in netting. It had probably followed the scent of a rodent hiding in the junk piled on top of outdoor shelving. In British Columbia, where farm fields, orchards and vineyards are often close to natural areas, crop areas are visited by many species. Some are pests but many are benign or beneficial animals that we should avoid harming accidentally.
1 of 4
Jared Maida
Trapped Snake
2 of 4
Jared Maida
Snake
3 of 4
Jared Maida
Netting
4 of 4
Jared Maida
Snake in Netting
EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS THAT CAN TRAP AND KILL WILDLIFE.
• Vertical Pipes
Owls and woodpeckers and some smaller birds will explore then get trapped in metal and PVC pipes as they look for nesting holes. Use metal screen for the openings.
• Horizontal Pipes
Bats, birds and rodents will find their way into pipes used to vent buildings or machinery. Metal screen or mesh should be fitted over the openings.
• Netting
Netting placed over crops to prevent starling damage can trap non-target birds and snakes. Check nets daily and make sure they are correctly draped and pegged. When not in use, netting should be stored off the ground so rodents don’t hide inside and attract snakes which may get entangled.
• Barrel Holes, Watering Cans, Hollow Canisters
It is amazing the various critters that see a dark hole as an invitation to hide inside. Plug the holes and avoid having to clean out a mess later.
• Coconut Erosion Control Fabric
Fabric used on slopes and shorelines to encourage plant growth on steep slopes. The coconut fiber is backed by thin netting that degrades in the sun after a few years. But it has also been shown to trap snakes after the fiber wears away and the plastic netting is exposed.
• Steep-Sided Irrigation Ponds, Metal Troughs and Swimming Pools
These water sources attract frogs and salamanders during breeding season but can trap amphibians. Pile stones at one end or place floating plastic discs on the surface to allow animals to crawl out. Check out Froglog swimming pool escape ramps.