So the other morning I stumbled across something unusual as I stepped into my hay room. It was a Kingsnake eating another smaller black snake. I know that Kingsnakes are non-venomous. So I tossed my impatient horses their hay, then returned to the snake to find it a safer place to finish it’s meal. I relocated it to a nice shady area on my property outside the pasture. I didn’t want it to getting stepped on by the horses or me when I came back to the hay room that evening.
Since this isn’t something you see everyday, I took a picture and posted it, both on my personal Facebook page and thebrokehorseman’s Facebook page. Here is the picture:
Now the responses I got were varied. They ranged from the typical fear response to reptiles to questions on how I identified the snake. And this made me think. As horse owners we are often exposed to wildlife more frequently than the average citizen. We spend a great deal of time outdoors in rural or sub rural settings. We sometimes intrude on their habitats while riding. Animals may come into our barns looking for food or a secure place to raise their young. I thought it would be appropriate to take a brief look at a few animals that might cross our path while at the barn or on the trail.
Snakes
Let’s go ahead and finish the thought on the snakes first. The United States is home to around 50 species of snakes and only 20 species are venomous. This means that over half of all snake species in the US are harmless. Some non-venomous snakes are actually quite beneficial. For instance, the non-venomous Kingsnake pictured above is immune to the venom of both Water Moccasins and Copperheads. Kingsnakes frequently eat venomous snakes. Other beneficial non-venomous snakes include Rat Snakes, Indigo Snakes, and Corn Snakes. Most of these eat small rodents, sometimes small birds, and eggs.
Ok, so some might be good to have around. That doesn’t help you at all if you can’t tell the difference between a harmless snake and a venomous snake! So how can you tell? Your very best line of defense is to do a few minutes of research. Educate yourself (and your children) on the snakes indigenous to your area. You should have a general idea of the color and pattern of dangerous snakes that live in your area.
However, if you are caught off guard by a snake you don’t recognize, here are a few basic guidelines to help you determine if the snake in question is indeed a dangerous one. Look at the head shape first (from a safe distance). Most venomous snakes have a triangular head with slotted pupils. Look at this picture of a Copperhead (Southeast US) for reference:
Most non-venomous snakes have a more oval-shaped head and round pupils. The shape of their body is often more round if viewed from above. Venomous snakes tend to have a broader belly with a more prominent spine. Check out this picture of a non-venomous Rat Snake (Southern US):
If you are still not sure and you can avoid getting too close just leave it alone. Most snakes will leave on their own when not cornered. If it’s definitely venomous – please don’t try to handle it! Call a professional to remove it. If you do decide to kill it (which I don’t recommend trying) remember the severed head can still deliver a venomous bite for a time after decapitation.
Coyotes
Coyotes get a bad rap. They are happy to live in wild, rural, suburban, and now more commonly in cities. These animals are naturally shy and opportunistic eaters. They eat small prey like rabbits, lizards, snakes, and scavenge carcasses. City and suburban coyotes often survive off garbage and neighborhood cats (more on preventing this below). Healthy coyotes are not generally a direct threat to people or large livestock, including our horses. Most that live outside city limits will be scared and wary of humans. Some that live in suburban and urban areas may be more habituated to humans though.
There has only been one documented case of a human death due to coyote attack in the United States. Unfortunately, it was a 3 year old child who was snatched from her yard and sustained a broken neck. Although this incident was tragic it is far from common. Coyotes rarely go after humans, especially adults. When you encounter a coyote on your property or out on the trails it will usually flee the scene. If it acts odd, looks ill, and tries to approach you, seek shelter ASAP. Call animal control as it may be rabid.
Your barn cats, poultry, rabbits, goats, sheep, and even small dogs DO have something to fear from coyotes. Being opportunistic hunters, coyotes have learned small domestic animals are easy prey. If you have barn cats, build them some safe places up high out of the reach of predators. Make secure boxes with small entries on the shelves. I have a barn cat, Simba, that slept on the roof of our house for years to avoid the coyotes. Keep your chickens up at night and install a predator proof fence around your coop and rabbit hutches. If your small dog comes to the barn with you at night, keep him on a leash. Many small dogs will engage in fights they can’t win. If coyotes are a problem on your farm and you have the space, consider getting a donkey. Donkeys are excellent guard animals that are known to attack coyotes.
Frogs
Frog populations are declining worldwide. There are several theories as to the reasons for their decline. One is the overuse of farming chemicals and pesticides. Although some of us may find these creatures gross or even creepy, we should do a few simple things to help them when possible.
First, don’t kill them! If you are too afraid to relocate one you find, please ask a friend. None of the frogs indigenous to the US are poisonous to humans. (although the Pickerel Frog does excrete a toxin that can kill some other frogs and irritate our skin). A few times a year you may find tadpoles in your horse’s water trough. Don’t dump it out. Remove the tadpoles first and place them in another bucket using the same water. Place it in a shady location outside the reach of curious horses. All you have to do is make sure the bucket doesn’t go dry or get too hot until the tadpoles develop and leave.
Opossum
Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America. They are nocturnal omnivores that are common throughout most of the US. Although they are generally harmless, they’re not an animal you want in your barn or pastures. Opossums have been linked to E.P.M. in horses. They are a primary host and their droppings can expose your horse to this awful disease. Learn more about E.P.M. here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36110/what-horse-owners-need-to-know-about-epm
You should make sure your hay room is not easy for opossum to access. Promptly discard any soiled hay you might find. There is not much you can do to prevent exposure in pastures other that use field fencing with small openings to minimize their entry.
If you find an opossum in your barn and it doesn’t leave, you may need to move it yourself. They are actually easy to remove if you take advantage of their natural defense of playing dead (Try this at your own own discretion). Simply grab a broom and a trash can or Rubbermaid container with a secure lid. If you can corner, it smack the floor and walls around it with the broom and make some noise. You may have to tap it a few times on it’s back, but there is no need to hurt the animal. It will probably hiss and show its teeth but when that fails, it will play dead. Push it into the container using the broom and close the lid! Now relocate it to nearby woods. Remember to disinfect any containers it touches before using with the horses.
Bees
Few things inspire panic more than stinging insects. So it’s no surprise that even the phrase “swarm of bees” causes people anxiety. Do you know what you should do if you come upon a swarm of bees like the one above on your property or out on a ride?
The first thing you need to know is honeybees are not generally aggressive, especially when they’re swarming. My family keeps honeybees and I have never been stung even when collecting honey or transferring hives. Yellow Jackets are aggressive, and they don’t collect in swarms like bees. This is a Yellow Jacket:
Secondly, a swarm is just a colony of bees looking for a new home. This typically happens in the spring or early fall when a hive gets too large and splits. The new queen and her workers leave the original hive and must find a new location. Trees are often the place they choose to land, but sometimes they will sit on the side of buildings or on fences. They are waiting in a large clump to protect the queen while some scout bees look for a new hive location.
I would turn around if you are out on a ride and the swarm is very close to the trail. Horses can be startled by unusual smells and sights and it isn’t worth the risk of being unseated and hurt. Both of my horses snort and blow at all our bee equipment when allowed to sniff it and they are generally laid back animals. I am not sure if the smell of the bees themselves bother them. It may be the smoke smell the supplies get from handling the bees with a smoker.
If you feel like there is sufficient space for you to pass by the swarm you could dismount and lead your horse by them. Just remember that they might still be there on your way back down the trail. Either way, the swarm is unlikely to bother you unless you get very close or disturb it.
If you find a swarm on your property call the local bee keeper’s association. They should be able to provide the name of someone who will remove them. A lot of beekeepers will pick them up for free because bees are expensive to purchase. Whatever you do, please don’t spray anything to kill them. Honeybees are declining worldwide just like frogs. Bees are very important to the environment and the pollination process of many popular foods including oranges, almonds, avocados, and coffee.
So the next time you have an unexpected visitor in the barn hopefully you will know what you should do!
