Snakes make early arrival this season - FOX Carolina 21
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The countdown to Easter is on and already Jenny Howard and her two little girls are counting eggs. They searched their backyard carefully Friday afternoon for eggs as they practiced for an upcoming Easter egg hunt at their church in Spartanburg.
"We'll be going on an Easter egg hunt at out church, Anderson Mill Road Baptist," Howard said.
And as she hid the eggs in bushes and tall grass, she was also being careful.
"I grew up in the country so snakes, you know, they would come and go," she said.
But exterminators and trappers said they're getting more calls than usual this time of year for snakes.
"We've had warm temperatures already into the 80's in March so they're out," Bryan Bobo, the owner of ACME Exterminating in Spartanburg said.
He's already had to use snake tongs and a glue board to catch a couple of snakes.
"They hunt with their sense of smell and they will go under a house chasing mice," Bobo said.
He said to keep snakes away, those in the area should keep their lawns and shrubs cut low. Also, block any holes near pipes or crawl spaces.
And he said if you see one, go the other way.
"They will generally only strike at you if you put them in a corner or a defensive position," he said.
So, while the Howards hunt for eggs in their backyard and at church they'll be ready.
"We'll keep our eyes open," Howard said. And Bobo will be waiting on the call.
Bobo said there are poisonous snakes in the Upstate, like copperheads or water moccasins. But he said black snakes and king snakes are good to have around to help get rid of other pests.
Bobo said other than cutting back bushes and closing holes, homeowners can also buy mothballs or snake repellent to put around the house. A snake will smell the sulphur usually found in those products and go the other way.
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