Snakes and scorpions!!!!
By vanny
@vandana7 (98912)
India
August 11, 2010 9:53pm CST
We have this tiny house in the outskirts. What is nice about it is that it faces a nice park and offers enough privacy. We bought it about 5 years ago, and I have been hoping that someday I will get to live there and grow a few flowers and vegetables of my own. :) Last month our tenants informed us that they saw two large scorpions, about the size of my palm 7 inches? And this month they saw a cobra. Now, that is giving me creeps! I certainly dont want to spend the rest of my life in apartments, even though mine is comparatively better. But I cant really feel comfortable at the thought of snakes and scorpions either. There are no rats there, and the little garden that we have there is neatly trimmed. However, the park has big trees, and there are many vacant home sites (lots) on which there are trees. While they do make the place look beautiful, I am left wondering how safe it is to go there. Is there something we can do to get rid of them for good? Please help.
3 people like this
13 responses
And I dont really have a picture of that scorpion, but the next time we find one, I will definitely take one for you. You can enlarge and put it in your bedroom! Ok sweetie?
@consultrainer (4992)
• India
12 Aug 10
well, vandana.. another wonderful green-thumb! .. but, a bit sore about it, right?
i would give you a simple suggestion. try and locate a snake-lovers group. They will teach you how to identify a poisonous version from a non-poisonous version. and, they will also tell you how to take care about yourself, or others, when there is a snake-bite or a scorpion bite.
I would suggest you to take a HOMOEO emergency medical kit, containing medicines like "ledum pal" .. which antidotes most of the poison bites. ( NO not the snake bite, .... just the rat bite, scorpion bite, ... of the lower variety) ..
there would have to be some COST involved to live peacefully. and, to live with nature includes all the creatures in nature.
----------------- how I love to see you there?
i would give you a simple suggestion. try and locate a snake-lovers group. They will teach you how to identify a poisonous version from a non-poisonous version. and, they will also tell you how to take care about yourself, or others, when there is a snake-bite or a scorpion bite.
I would suggest you to take a HOMOEO emergency medical kit, containing medicines like "ledum pal" .. which antidotes most of the poison bites. ( NO not the snake bite, .... just the rat bite, scorpion bite, ... of the lower variety) ..
there would have to be some COST involved to live peacefully. and, to live with nature includes all the creatures in nature.
----------------- how I love to see you there?@consultrainer (4992)
• India
12 Aug 10
meluan, how about joining hands to HELP our friend VANDANA.
I am always ready to join you ... 
I am always ready to join you ... @consultrainer (4992)
• India
12 Aug 10
oh. meluan, you seem to have suggested to vandana to bring in her family along with her to the wonderfully lonely place. BUT, I CANNOT take my wife along? .. how strange? ....
i am just not able to understand the rationale .. could you bother with some more words.. ... a thorough explanation will not only help in giving clarity, but also other ways!
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
12 Aug 10
Hi vandana7, I like to stay in landhouse where there are compound for me to grow trees, flower and vegetable plants like what I'm doing now. Snakes did available here earlier where there were wild bushes growing wildly in an old abandoned house quite near to the backyard of our house. Since we couldn't contact with the owner of the house my husband then paid for the gardener who work in his office garden to get rid of the bushes regularly. Since then there is no more snake turning up anymore. I was told spreading the yellowish sulphur powder along the fence could prevent snakes and scorpion from approaching our house compound. We use the same stuff when having camping at the wood as well. It serves its purpose well. We can get sulphur powder from any of the local chinese herbal outlet here. If there isn't any safety shelter like bushes, vacant houses etc for snake and scorpian to hide definately they won't appear anymore.
Happy posting 
@consultrainer (4992)
• India
12 Aug 10
lkbooi, are you trying to set her house on fire? ...
I remember very vaguely that sulphur has the tendency to catch fire when exposed to atmosphere.
And, how about using GARLIC paste... I have enough evidence, collected from mylot discussions also, to suggest that garlic could be put to use .. for avoiding snakes.
I remember very vaguely that sulphur has the tendency to catch fire when exposed to atmosphere.
And, how about using GARLIC paste... I have enough evidence, collected from mylot discussions also, to suggest that garlic could be put to use .. for avoiding snakes.@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Wow Ikbooi, exactly the hint I was looking for. Thanks a million. Yeah, long ago somebody did mention that there is a powder that prevents snakes and scorpions from coming, but since I didnt know what it was, I was left wondering what to ask the chemist. Herbal outlet? Cant we get sulphur from these laboratory chemicals suppliers? I meant to ask whether it is one and the same. Of course, I know it is used in herbal products. :) But thanks a lot dear. :) Have a nice day. :)
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Now this is getting interesting. Sulphur catches fire when exposed to atmosphere!!! I thought it was Na (Sodium) and not sulphur doctor!!! I dont know but I vaguely recall seeing huge piles yellow powder in Gujarat when I was young, and I was told that was Sulphur. And may be fire was running away too fast for it to catch it. :) May be some combination is essential for that!!!
And now that CT brought it up, how do you spread it lkbooi, I mean you mix it in water (I doubt if it will mix) or you just sprinkle a couple of tablespoons around your yard - once in a week, month, how often. If you could let us know some more.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 Aug 10
Hi Vandy!
I think if you shift to your jungle house, you will live near nature in the company of Cobra snakes and scorpions, squirrels, lizards, centipedes, flies and sparrows etc.
Don't feel scared they will not harm you, if you don't make fun with them and try to play with them. They would leave peacefully with you because they know you are very nice and caring and you will take care of their abode. If you do not want them, you may call a snake charmer to catch the Cobra and other snakes, whenever you happen to see snakes and you want to get rid of them. Also, you will have to make the ground clean so that there are no areas for them to hide. best of luck!
I think if you shift to your jungle house, you will live near nature in the company of Cobra snakes and scorpions, squirrels, lizards, centipedes, flies and sparrows etc. Don't feel scared they will not harm you, if you don't make fun with them and try to play with them. They would leave peacefully with you because they know you are very nice and caring and you will take care of their abode. If you do not want them, you may call a snake charmer to catch the Cobra and other snakes, whenever you happen to see snakes and you want to get rid of them. Also, you will have to make the ground clean so that there are no areas for them to hide. best of luck!@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
16 Aug 10
I think you got enough solutions now to get rid of snakes etc.
(How dare I could be sarcastic with you)
)
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Aug 10
Get a mongoose to get rid of the cobra, don't know what you can do about scorpions...
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 Aug 10
How she will get a mongoose.........!!!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98912)
• India
13 Aug 10
I responded twice to you today, but the net - really frustrating experience. :)
Anyway, mongoose and peacock were the first two that came to my mind. Keeping peacocks is not permitted as they are endangered species. So invariably, it has to be mongoose. No problem in getting them. :)
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
12 Aug 10
I am not really scared of snakes, but I have never encountered on that was almost as big as I am, either. If I met one of those kinds of snakes, then I think I might change my opinion of them. We do have poisonous snakes here, but they generally do not bother you unless you bother them. Occasionally they will slither into someone's home or shed or something, and that can be a problem, but generally they want to stay as far away from humans as they can get.
I really do not know that much about scorpions other than I am afraid of them. I have seen a few, and I have stayed as far away from them as possible. I do not want to get up close and personal with them, and I would be paranoid about one finding its way into my house. I am sorry that I am not being more reassuring about it, but that is how I feel.
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
12 Aug 10
Personally, I would stay away from the pesticides as much as possible unless they are natural-based like many of the ones suggested here, such as the garlic paste mixed with water and black pepper (if it works, that is). I know that they say that sound-waves will work on some pests, but I have tried that method and it did not work, even when I changed the frequency. I think that is most likely due to the fact that some creatures are more sensitive to it than others, and some are born deaf and will not be affected by it.
@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Honestly purple, I got good hints out here. Malpoa said garlic paste, mixed in water, when sprinkled in yard, keeps snakes away, then CT as usual added black pepper to that. lkbooi said they use sulphur powder in China to keep these poisonous things away and it works, and then viji has somebody coming every rainy season using some powder to keep snakes away. Rich hopes there are some soundwaves based gadgets that can keep snakes and scorpions away, Oreo trusts RAID, Carolbee prefers pest control people, and my friend Mario believes in demonstrating what would be the likely punishment. Looks like Saphy is the only one who couldnt come up with one, but never mind, you cant expect much from a dumb blond!
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@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Yeah - snakes are such useful ones, highly maligned. Even lizards. They eat away cockroaches. Pity we are made to fear them. Pest control would be my last resort. I dont want rats to feel safe to come in. Out here, pest control people use chemicals indiscriminately. So for now, I am not contemplating that. :)
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
21 Sep 10
This is the disadvantage of having a house near parks along with advantages. It is a news to me that using some yellow powder (I think sulfur) will prevent scorpian and snakes to come near the house. Through this discussion I got this information. Thanks for that. I am sorry I am not able to give any solution to you as I am a big zero in this matter.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
12 Aug 10
hi vandy sounds like a nice little house to live in some day.
Scorpions are indeed scary but can be exterminated. I have'
read that most snakes, even Cobras are about as afraid of us
as we are of them, so doubt it would come into your yard
if people are around. I don't think trees have much to do
with scorpions who love the hot sands of desert county like
even Arizona
in my America. Nor snakes either. I think in
regards to unwanted critters in one's house an exterminator
would be the best answer.
in my America. Nor snakes either. I think in
regards to unwanted critters in one's house an exterminator
would be the best answer.@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Yeah Hatley, not as big as what you all are accustomed to though. :) Just 800 sft in 200 sq.yds. But I thought when I get older, it would get tougher for me to manage big yard and big house, so I preferred small one at that time, and of course, money too was a constraint. But it is really enough for me in all respects. :) Garden is well planned. And I would get to spend my day in the park under the tall trees. And there is a very small lake more like a pond, which they are developing by adding some beautiful things. There are lotuses too. I just love that place, even though it is so small. :) I am sure you would have loved it too Hatley. Wish I could bring you down here. :) Wish you could have stayed with me. :) 
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
12 Aug 10
Hi vandana, you have a nice house. It is a pictorial place. When you will live there I may be your guest. Will you accept me? Scorpion is an innocent insect. It does no harm. Yes cobra like snake is a dangerous reptile. But if you do no harm to this animal it will do nothing. Rather it will avoid you. So you can live your house without any fear.
@voldrox (7191)
• India
12 Aug 10
Hi vandana,
That would sure creep anyone out. I have a friend who's house is situated in a similar place and his house invites such reptiles. Scorpions don't concern them much but snakes. He likes to kill snakes! 
He claims to have killed 3 or 4 snakes, which includes a Krait which is quite poisnous. A cobra is quite intimidating i agree. 
I am not sure if anything can be done to prevent such belly crawlers to enter your premises. I don't know but i have heard snakes don't like the smell of some particular plant leaves. I think i will ask him and let you know. 
He claims to have killed 3 or 4 snakes, which includes a Krait which is quite poisnous. A cobra is quite intimidating i agree.
I am not sure if anything can be done to prevent such belly crawlers to enter your premises. I don't know but i have heard snakes don't like the smell of some particular plant leaves. I think i will ask him and let you know. @vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Please do so. And also how we need to spread those leaves, I mean do we dry and powder them, or do we grow some plants here and there in our garden, or whatever. Thanks for your concern voldi. :) I will wait for further information. :) Ikbooi suggested sulphur, and CT mentioned pepper and garlic. Even malpoa suggested that. I am just about to ask them details. :)
@malpoa (1216)
• India
12 Aug 10
I was brought up in a locality where there is a lot of lakes and bushes. so the chances of more snakes were plenty. People have caught large snakes too..Snakes are known to shy away from the smell of garlic. I have heard elders say that spraying water mixed with crushed garlic keeps away snakes.
@malpoa (1216)
• India
14 Aug 10
I am sorry...havent used this personally so dont know...
I am doing ok...what abt u?
@vandana7 (98912)
• India
12 Aug 10
Hi malpoa, how are you doing sweetie? CT mentioned it. He said a combination of garlic with pepper. Can you tell me what ratio, and frequency at which it is spread? Viji has an interesting one. She says there is an anti-snake powder. So I am just curious to know what it is. :)
@mario_stevens (6971)
• Malaysia
12 Aug 10
if i were you, i would get some traps and cages and get some of those little critters and put them on display. that would most probably scare of the rest of those critters from thinking about harming you or your family
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
12 Aug 10
Punishing the "bad" ones to set an example for the others, huh?
Interesting theory, but I don't think it has worked very well in humans, and I suspect it won't work very well with snakes and scorpions, either. On the other hand, they might take the hint, since they are probably more intelligent than we are anyway.
Interesting theory, but I don't think it has worked very well in humans, and I suspect it won't work very well with snakes and scorpions, either. On the other hand, they might take the hint, since they are probably more intelligent than we are anyway.