I know that ODNR has protected the water snakes on lake Eire but at some point when do you get too many? This weekend fellow boaters had snakes in boats and on a wood Lyman's swim platform we counted 18 snakes sunning themselves. My neighbor counted over 20 swimming by our boats this weekend. I can put up a lot of things but a snake in the boat is not one of them. People at the marina said they heard if you put soap in the bildge they will not go in your boat but did not know what kind or how much. Any one out there know?:
Snakes taking over
- Thread starter DPF
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RollerCoastr
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It was my understanding that they had been removed from the protected/endangered list, but I can't find anything on the web to substantiate that. (lots of out-of-date documents)
I'm with you though - I've NEVER seen the population this big. They're frickin everywhere this year.
I haven't heard the soap theory, and I'm afraid I don't have much faith in it.
I'm with you though - I've NEVER seen the population this big. They're frickin everywhere this year.
I haven't heard the soap theory, and I'm afraid I don't have much faith in it.
Lake Erie Boater
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I stopped counting at 20 of them at PIB Marina this weekend. You had to dodge them just walking the dock out to the boat. They were also swimming everywhere. We even saw one that had caught a huge goby. Made for great entertainment as the kids made a contest out of seeing how many they could net at one time.
The admiral heard from the curator at the wildlife museum that they are supposed to be coming off the endangered species list this summer.
The admiral heard from the curator at the wildlife museum that they are supposed to be coming off the endangered species list this summer.
RollerCoastr
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- Nov 15, 2007
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Randy, I heard that Kelley's was quiet this wkd. What was it like up at The Bay? Did Axel & Harry's do the renovations they talked about? (extending the 2nd floor over the dining room)
Mothballs can work to keep animals out of places. Not sure if it'll work on reptiles, but it'd be worth a try. Maybe you can put them in small mesh bags and hang them? Ever see movies where someone wards off vampires by wearing a necklace of garlic? I'm imagining a boat with a necklace of mothballs...
But, it sounds like hunting season is about to open........
But, it sounds like hunting season is about to open........
Lake Erie Boater
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It did seem quiet, and certainly less busy than I would have expected.
Axel & Harry's was a ghost town. Not even open for business....didn't look like it would be any time soon. They even took the sign off the roof??
katricol
Active Member
SNAKES huh ??? so do you swim with them in the water? I don't think I'd like seeing snakes everywhere....just sayin
Lake Erie Boater
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Endangered my A$$. They cameout everytime the sun did. Caution....this photo could be considered soft porn.
I guess they like to do some fishing now and then as well. They are good at catching goby's which themselves are an invasive species, but seem to be helping feed the snake's comeback.
Kat...
They seem to be most concentrated in and around the local marinas. We don't see them much (yet??) at the swimming holes.
I guess they like to do some fishing now and then as well. They are good at catching goby's which themselves are an invasive species, but seem to be helping feed the snake's comeback.
Kat...
They seem to be most concentrated in and around the local marinas. We don't see them much (yet??) at the swimming holes.
Gone Boating
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Knock on wood, I have yet to see one of those at this end of the lake. And I'd like to keep it that way.
We have not been to the beach yet. But last year there were none around when we anchored out and swam up to the beach. So far this year they seem to be all over at the marina and channels. We docked at pib island and seen several there last weekend. My greatest fear is going back to the boat at night and stepping on one.
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floriduramax1
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Why in the world would something like that be on a "protected" list???Endangered my A$$. They cameout everytime the sun did. Caution....this photo could be considered soft porn.
I guess they like to do some fishing now and then as well. They are good at catching goby's which themselves are an invasive species, but seem to be helping feed the snake's comeback.
Kat...
They seem to be most concentrated in and around the local marinas. We don't see them much (yet??) at the swimming holes.
floriduramax1
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I thought gators were bad!!! That would totally end my wife's boating career!
floriduramax1
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So you are supposed to "shooo" them off your dock or swim platform??
Heck with that!!! Treat them the same way as a "nuisance gator" relocate, or die!!!
Heck with that!!! Treat them the same way as a "nuisance gator" relocate, or die!!!
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mwph
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What the hell kind of snake is that and WTF is a goby?
Down here we have had great success with moth balls. We use the at home in the flower/plant beds to keep chipmunks away. At the slip we spread them under the floating docks for the snakes. Havent seen one in two years. First year without the moth balls we saw a dozen.
As a side note, I don't care what list they are on, "I aint puttin up with it!" Period.
Down here we have had great success with moth balls. We use the at home in the flower/plant beds to keep chipmunks away. At the slip we spread them under the floating docks for the snakes. Havent seen one in two years. First year without the moth balls we saw a dozen.
As a side note, I don't care what list they are on, "I aint puttin up with it!" Period.
Wired2Cruze
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I saw a feature on Erie water snakes on "Dirtiest Jobs" last year. The host was with some woman that captured and tagged them, or some such thing.
He was bitten once or twice trying to catch them, but they're not venomous.
I'd just make a lot of noise walking the dock and hope that scares them away.
I hope they're gone by mid-June, when we go back up to PIB, or my wife won't want to go back again either.:smt089
Or maybe I'll have to keep a ball bat in my boat!
He was bitten once or twice trying to catch them, but they're not venomous.
I'd just make a lot of noise walking the dock and hope that scares them away.
I hope they're gone by mid-June, when we go back up to PIB, or my wife won't want to go back again either.:smt089
Or maybe I'll have to keep a ball bat in my boat!
Lake Erie Boater
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They really didn't come out unless the sun was warming the steel dock grating. If they were out, we walked the docks heavy footed and that sent them all running. Funny as they basically high dive right off the dock and into the water.
I wouldn't call them aggressive unless you try to actually catch them (as was shown on dirtiest jobs). Then, they will turn and bite. One of the kids in the group had a snake get him and it drew blood. They thought it was all on good fun though.
I wouldn't call them aggressive unless you try to actually catch them (as was shown on dirtiest jobs). Then, they will turn and bite. One of the kids in the group had a snake get him and it drew blood. They thought it was all on good fun though.
A goby is a asian ocean fish brought in on ocean freighters when they pump out the ballast. Same way we got the zebra mussel. They can only swim on the bottom and only get 3" long at most. look like a catfish. I don't think anyone knows the effect of them yet good or bad. I think the water snakes are in their mating season and are more aggressive right now but I have been boating over 30 years on lake Erie and have never seen them as bad as they are now. But I don't think we need any more.
