Photo: Ivan Samkov

Do snakes hate kerosene?

Some believe that pouring kerosene, diesel or concoctions made of garlic will stop snakes creeping into house premises. It is a myth. No chemical can act as a deterrent against such reptiles. Kerosene or other pungent substances may force snakes out of places where they are holed up when poured on them.

onmanorama.com - Kerosene not a snake deterrent, download 'SARPA' app and be safe

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As the state reels in rain fury, waterlogging, soggy surroundings and creepy crawlies are making life miserable for several households. Though the menace is not linked to the rainy season alone, during incessant showers complaints of snakes being spotted on residential premises are galore. However, by following certain steps, residents can avoid a brush with poisonous reptiles to a great extent. Abeesh K A forest watcher and district co-ordinator of, SARPA, a snake rescue app, shares a few tips on this count.

Keeps the surroundings clean

Littering will naturally attract rodents and other creatures to your compound. And this in turn attracts the reptiles. So, it is very important to keep the surroundings clean and avoid littering food waste to keep snakes and other poisonous reptiles away.

Clear thickets around the house

During the rainy season, the soil gets covered by weeds and thick undergrowths will form in no time. As these plants are favourite spots of snakes to balance their body temperature, the chances of their presence in such places are high. During the rainy season, the soil gets covered by weeds and thick undergrowths will form in no time. Thus, clearing the weeds and thickets in the lawns play a significant role in curbing the presence of snakes.

Avoid storing waste in the kitchen

In many households, food wastes are stored in waste baskets overnight to dispose of them the next day. Such food materials also attract smaller creatures and which in turn attract the snakes. Therefore, clearing all waste food materials at night itself and keeping the kitchen clean will make it a safer place.

Check the bead spreads, mattresses

In order to balance the body heat snakes usually take refuge under warm clothes and mattresses. So, always check bed sheets and mattresses before going to bed.

Avoid piling up clothes

It is also important to avoid littering and dumping clothes carelessly in the house. Always keep the clothes folded inside a cupboard. And, whenever a cloth is taken from a heap, check it thoroughly before use.

Kerosene, garlic juice not snake deterrents

SARPA app, a 24-hour response mechanism

The SARPA app developed under the aegis of Kerala Forest Department entails a 24-hour response platform providing instant redressal and rescue measures. The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and registration is simple. If a snake is spotted, take its picture or the picture of the place where it is hiding and upload it through the app. A rescue team, which is part of a wide network that also includes forest officials in higher echelons, would arrive on the spot to help you out.

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Where do timber rattlesnakes like to hide?

In some parts of their range, timber rattlesnakes are solitary and will hibernate alone in a stump hole or under ground cover. In other parts of their range, they congregate in dens underneath rocks, fissures in rocky ledges or other crevices.

nationalzoo.si.edu - Timber rattlesnake - Smithsonian's National Zoo

Physical Description

These large, heavy pit vipers vary in coloration. They are gray, sometimes with a pinkish hue and have a stripe down their back. This stripe is orange, yellow or pinkish in some timber rattlesnakes, while others have a brown or black stripe. Both morphs, or variations in color, have darker or black coloration at the tip of their tail and dark stripes that form a chevron pattern along the back and sides of the snake. This distinct pattern and coloration helps the timber rattlesnake camouflage among the vegetation on the ground. Loose sections of the tail made of keratin (the same substance as human hair and fingernails) form the characteristic rattles or "buttons" at the tip of the timber rattlesnake's tail. When threatened, it props itself up and shakes its rattle, which presses the buttons together producing a rapid, crisp rattling sound. The sound serves as a warning before the snake strikes. Though it may strike if necessary, the timber rattlesnake is more docile than other members of its family and is more likely to stay coiled or stretched out, motionless when encountered in the wild. Like other vipers, the timber rattlesnake is venomous with venom potent enough to kill a human. A timber rattlesnake bite is a medical emergency. However, timber rattlesnake bites are rare.

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