Muddawg's Q&A

We have a vulture in our backyard that seems to be injured. He was on our deck railing and appeared to try to fly but landed on the ground and is just sitting there.

Hi Muddawg! I think we have a squirrel problem! They are either trapped in our covered gutters or are running around in the eaves of our attic. I'm too scared to find out. We are in Clayton, NC. Do you help with that! Thanks Tobey

Victoria,

Yes. You are entirely correct on the identification of these snakes. Although they look quite different, they are in fact the same species. Common Rat Snakes.

The Rat Snake will change not only it’s colors as it ages but it’s patterns as well. It can be very hard to identify if you’re not familiar with this ability to change.

The one in the top photo has its stripes well defined much resembling it’s close cousin, the Garter snake. But you can still see the faint blocks on the one in the bottom photo. These blocks were very well pronounced when it was still a first season juvinile
and stood out sharply on the bright gray background as the one I’m holding in this photo.


As to what should you do? Well, honestly, that would be entirely up to you. Being completely harmless and better mousers than cats, I would leave them in place to help keep your home free of unwanted vermin. Not only do they eat mice, they also eat other snakes
that could be dangerous to us. They are quiet neighbors that do no damage, leave very little mess behind and help to protect us from the much more dangerous vipers. What more could you ask?

But, if you can’t bare the thought of sharing space with them, they can be relocated very easily. They have no fangs and rarely bite as long as you are gentle with them and if they do tend to be having a bad day, a pair of gardening gloves will protect you
from what tiny teeth they do have.



If I can assist you further, just give me a call at 919 735-3942

Picture of another snake that was found next to the first one (couldn't attach two pictures at once)

Hello Muddawg. Today my bf found two big snakes in his shed while cleaning it. We identified them as rat snakes and that makes them not dangerous ones. Can you confirm or refute our assumption, please? The snakes escaped underneath the house deck, though
he tried to prevent the second one from doing that. We believe they are a snake couple 🐍 ❤️ Can you suggest the best thing we can do in this situation? Maybe we should put all the stuff back to the shed in a hope they come back and we manage to catch them
this time? And what should we do to them if we manage to catch them? Thank you in advance!

Angela,



It depends on whether or not this guy has obtained a "Depredation" permit. If he has legally obtain a depredation permit from your local game warden then there is nothing you can do. With that permit he is every bit within his rights to shoot as many deer in
his field as determined by the permit.



Yes, there is a season for the harvesting of deer and yes, there are bag limits. But the depredation permit is a little different in which he is limited to only the estimated numbers on that permit. That number is determined by the officer writing the permit
and can be different than normal bag limits.



I would start by calling my local game warden or wildlife enforcement officer to see if he has obtained a permit first. If not, then it is that officers duty to go out and serve him with a citation which could lead to a court trail, fines, confiscation of firearm
and even, in some cases, replacement cost for the deer and jail time.



As far as the shots are coming in your direction and endangering you, your family or property, then that is reckless endangerment and you local law enforcement should handle that.

Good evening. I have a question regarding a farmer and depredation. Is there ANYTHING legally that can be done when your property borders a small piece of farm land (5 acres) and the farmer is shooting every deer in site to 'protect his soybeans'. We have
bullets flying all over the place and we have called the police and wildlife people so many times, but nothing has changed. Do we have any basis to stand on to stop this farmer from killing these deer? Is there not a limit or a time (or season) that will make
him stop.

Not sure if you can help me or not but I'm trying to find a place that will take a baby bird that showed up in the storage room on my porch. He's been there for awhile now and was hoping you may know someone who can help it.

Have you guys ever extracted a mole from someone’s yard? I’m pretty sure there is one, or a few that have made a network of tunnels in my neighbors yard, and now they have some routes running down to mine. I’ve never really dealt with them before, but
I did read that they are a protected species here in North Carolina so I haven’t messed with them. What do you recommend?

Melanie... One more thing.



Be sure to always wear gloves when handling live bats. They are know carriers of rabies and their bite is so small that you may not even notice it.



Also, check it for "White Nose Syndrome". This is a disease that is running through our bats in Virginia and North Carolina and is deadly to bats. It will be apparent by the coloring around the nose. It will look like a white mold growing around the nose.



If your bat has White Nose Syndrome, then it should be reported to North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission immediately. (call me and I'll help you report it.)



Thanks again.

Melanie,



I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.



Thanks for your question.

I'm sorry to say that we don't do wildlife rehab, here. There's little I can do with the a sick or injured bat. In fact, it would not even be legal for me to have it in my possession.



It's unlikely that it's a "baby" at this time of year. We do have a couple of species of bats in North Carolina that are small in size and could be mistaken for a juvenile. If it is, in fact, a baby, born late, then it will have very little chance of survival
as winter approaches.



If it's an adult of a smaller breed, then it's common to find old or weak bats falling to the ground to die where the colony nest. A cold snap, like we just experienced, is all that's needed to thin out the old and weak.



As cruel as it sounds, and I hate to say it, but that is nature’s way. The best thing that can be done is to return it to where it was found. If it doesn't have the strength return itself to the roost, then it will not survive the coming cold anyway.



But the good news is this: If your student has a colony of bats wintering in their shop, it presents a wondrous opportunity to see these remarkable creatures up close and learn about them. Approach them slowly as not to startle them, remain calm and quiet,
and do not touch them or disturb them needlessly.



Keep in mind, if the bats have to go, if the owner can't tolerate sharing space with them, then have them call me. I do bat exclusions as well.

Hello! I am a high school science teacher. Today someone brought a baby bat to me that he found in his shop. He says there are lots of them in his shop and they stay on the walls and then die. I feel terrible just leaving it to die at the end of the day.
Is there any way I could bring it to someone after school?

Wow, Kenneth , I really am impressed. This is info that is really needed especially for gals like me who no nothing.

Thanks for sharing this and I will do the same . I appreciate you.

Ricky,



Yes. In fact, I took this little lady from underneath a barn in Belfast. We have a strong population just north of Goldbsboro. I've seen them in Rosewood and Waynsborough Park as well.

I would like to know if you have ever encountered any ground hogs in Wayne County?

Pretty cool site Kenneth

Well, there's good and bad in all.

I may have snakes under my house but I don't have mice.:)

Yesterday | 13:38



I still hate snakes...gross!

I have to admit it that this is pretty cool!

I really enjoyed the picture commentary :)

LOVE THIS SITE! So much information that I never knew before! Keep on adding stuff! It's awesome!

This is a test of your new site. Congrats on it and I hope you have great success.