Wednesday, April 24, 2002

Warm weather brings out the snakes here By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com As Fayette County's weather heats up, snake spottings will increase, according to Bill Newman of the Fayette County Animal Shelter. So Newman has some words of caution for everyone, particularly for children: leave them alone! The most troublesome snake varieties in this area are copperheads and cottonmouths, Newman said. They can hide in log piles, pine straw "If you see one in your yard, just leave it alone ... It'll go on, it won't stay there," Newman said. Snakes can also populate Peachtree City's cart path system at night, seeking the warmth of the pavement when darkness sets, Newman added. Not all snakes are bad, Newman said, but it's a wise idea for kids not to mess with them, which could cause the snake to strike. Children should also avoid dashing through the woods, where snakes are more likely to appear, he added. Parents should also use caution with kids around lakes and ponds, where snake populations also reside, Newman said. What do you think of this story? Click here to send a message to the editor. Back to the News Home Page| Back to the top of the page