First copperhead spotted on my property (buying, taxes, pine)

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Thanks for this thread, Ani!

I run around barefoot, inside & out, 9 months out of the year. I would not have known that it wasn't safe to do when I get moved.

I love going barefoot and also love wearing flip flops and thong sandals. I got broken from the flip flop habit the first Spring we were here, when I ran out to help DH w/ a limb he was sawing down - on our Hawthorn tree. I stepped back and a four inch thorn pierced my flip flop and went into the arch of my sole.

I don't wear flip flops to do yard work anymore . . .

Truly, SB, you will probably be fine going barefoot in cut grass - copperheads don't hang out on lawns typically . . . just make sure you don't have any Hawthorn trees around.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I love going barefoot and also love wearing flip flops and thong sandals. I got broken from the flip flop habit the first Spring we were here, when I ran out to help DH w/ a limb he was sawing down - on our Hawthorn tree. I stepped back and a four inch thorn pierced my flip flop and went into the arch of my sole.

I don't wear flip flops to do yard work anymore . . .

Truly, SB, you will probably be fine going barefoot in cut grass - copperheads don't hang out on lawns typically . . . just make sure you don't have any Hawthorn trees around.

Oooooo those hawthorn thorns are vicious! That must have been awful, Ani.

I'll be very careful to not run barefoot outside until I know for sure.

I checked the NC snakes & amphibians online & was surprised to see the Pine Barren tree frogs are in a portion of NC, just east of the Charlotte area.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Oooooo those hawthorn thorns are vicious! That must have been awful, Ani.

I'll be very careful to not run barefoot outside until I know for sure.

I checked the NC snakes & amphibians online & was surprised to see the Pine Barren tree frogs are in a portion of NC, just east of the Charlotte area.

I will have to look those up. I have several adorable little green tree frogs that hang out around my fountain in the front!!!! I am very fond of them. I hope to get a pic to share someday.

But I guess I don't know what a pine barren tree frog is, so must find out what to look for . . .

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I will have to look those up. I have several adorable little green tree frogs that hang out around my fountain in the front!!!! I am very fond of them. I hope to get a pic to share someday.

But I guess I don't know what a pine barren tree frog is, so must find out what to look for . . .

I don't think I've heard one of those before. I use to live 60 miles east of Charlotte years ago.

http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC...20Treefrog.mp3

http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC...d/Hyl_and.html

[anifani821]

MM- how did you find that link w/ the sound clip? ROFL! I HAVE HEARD THAT CALL BEFORE!!! Down around Bogue Sound. The map doesn't really show Bogue Sound but I am sure that is where I heard it.

Now that is a darling little green frog!! The ones I have around the house are solid green and have the same sticky fingers - they often cling to the glass door!!! Don't know what the "real" name is . . . always just heard people call them tree frogs, LOL!!!

Thank you for the neat link . . .

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I will have to look those up. I have several adorable little green tree frogs that hang out around my fountain in the front!!!! I am very fond of them. I hope to get a pic to share someday.

But I guess I don't know what a pine barren tree frog is, so must find out what to look for . . .

I cross-checked NJ's snakes & amphibians with NC's when I saw the Pine Barren tree frogs. That was very interestinng.

NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Online Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians

Amphibians and Reptiles of North Carolina - Davidson Herpetology Laboratory

Listed: N.C. Natural Heritage Program, Significantly Rare
Description: Named for the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the Pine Barrens treefrog is considered by some to be the most beautiful frog in the United States. It is a medium-sized green treefrog with a white-bordered lavender stripe along each side of its body and brilliant orange on the underside of each leg.
Habitats and Habits: Pine Barrens treefrogs are found in the pine forests and sandhills of south-central North Carolina. They are nocturnal and seldom seen, presumably spending their time in shrubs and trees. Most sightings occur during their breeding season. Breeding habitats include Carolina bays, pocosins (shrub bogs), spring-fed pools and bogs adjacent to pine forests. Females attach eggs singly or in small clusters to Sphagnum moss, or lay them on the bottom of the wetland. After hatching, tadpoles complete metamorphosis in seven to 11 weeks.
Call: Pine Barrens treefrogs call from April to September. Males call from the ground or from shrubs or other vegetation near the water’s surface. Their call, which sounds like a nasal “honk” or “quonk,” is quickly repeated 10 to 20 times at infrequent intervals.
Frog Fact: Pine Barrens treefrogs have a limited distribution in North Carolina, and populations are thought to be declining due to habitat destruction and degradation.

[anifani821]

This is fascinating! I wonder if I will ever be lucky enuff to see one, since it appears they are declining in number and obviously - not widespread in NC.

[Whytewulf]

Growing up in AZ, I am used to snakes, especially in the 80's when there was a still a desert, we had rattlers all the time. You would at first try and remove them, but in reality much safer to kill them. In this case they aren't endangered and do prevent a threat so kil or be killed. (not really as a healthy adult, can survive most bites, but eh it still hurts and anti-venom is expensive but i digress).

Before getting outdoor cats, which I am not a fan of, because they don't just stay in the owners yard and make sandboxes of my yard. A way to keep snakes away from your house is put moth balls in your yard and around your house. They aren't poisonous, but snakes don't like the "smell".

I for one am getting sick of the spiders. Holy smokes. I come home park in the driveway, 3 hours later come out and I have a huge beautiful web on the drivers door to mirror. I used to try and not kill em, but.. well eh, they are bugging me now.

[anifani821]

Don't feel bad about whacking the spiders on your car. Really. I try to preserve their webs (as they catch pesky insects like flies) but when on a vehicle . . . don't feel bad about whacking them, LOL!!!

Yes we seem to have a lot of spiders this year. But most I have seen are garden spiders or wolf spiders. My neighbor and I talked about this on July 4th - I thought I was the only person who has to knock of spider webs on the deck every couple of days. It has seemed much worse than typical this year.

I have heard people say use mothballs . . . glad to know it works. I had put some out in the back but for DEER control! Ha Ha Ha!!! Maybe I ran the snake up to the front yard!!!!!

[Whytewulf]

Originally Posted by anifani821

I have heard people say use mothballs . . . glad to know it works. I had put some out in the back but for DEER control! Ha Ha Ha!!! Maybe I ran the snake up to the front yard!!!!!

That is critical, it scares things away or Towards other things, so if you have them far out but not close to your house, you may be encouraging the worst.