Hey, I know what we should do. Let put a shmillion rattlesnakes out on that island and see what happens. (Plus, it's a little bit too close to my house) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/us/island-rattlesnake-colony-gives-small-town-massachusetts-jitters.html?_r=0
In The Dragons of Eden, Carl Sagan explains how the fear of reptiles emerges from the deepest, earliest evolved parts of our brains--stemming from when our ancestors were tiny mammals whose survival depended upon not being eaten by reptiles. You can see why people can't get past their fears and embrace the science, even when the science clearly shows they have nothing to fear.
This past winter we had a ladybug problem. Well, it wasn't really a problem but there sure were a lot of ladybugs in my house. My wife had no problem with them. If one got in her way she took it outside. If one landed on her she gently picked it up and moved it. But let one spider get in the house and you'd think I had invited an invading army in to stay. People dig cute stuff. And our notion of what is "cute" can be rather odd. Ladybugs are every bit the bug that a beetle is. But they look pretty (to many) so we don't mind sharing the space. I do find it funny that people are concerned about the snakes escaping and procreating elsewhere despite the fact that the snake experts think that is highly unlikely.
Ladybugs are good to have around. They munch on insects that are harmful to plants, which is a good thing if you like gardening like I do. Home Depot used to sell them. As far a spiders go. My wife doesn't have a problem with certain spiders. Through the years, I told her that many spiders are harmless, like those spiders with the long legs (Daddy Longlegs?) So if she sees on, she gets me. I wrap up them up in a piece of toyledo paper, and I release them outside. She has no problem with Daddy Long legs, or little wolf spiders. But, she also know to let me know if there is a suspicious looking spider. If the body is black, and it has a certain red marking, she alerts me :smile: If I happen to have a spare huarache lying around, I promptly kill it. Palos! end of story. :smile:
Yes. The article even mentions that. But zoologists are too worried; this rattler is very shy and seldom seen by humans. Also, it isn't particularly venomous, and it often doesn't even inject venom in the very rare times humans have been bitten. Locals don't have any reason to worry. The snake's population was decimated by human intrusion. That, the food supply (also damaged by humans), and the limited nesting opportunities will serve to keep the population down.
My Dad always told me and my brother that there were rattlesnakes in the Blue Hills Reservation, but I never saw one during hikes or horse rides, so I started to think he was pulling our legs. Then this happened; 5-Foot Rattlesnake Found Outside Office Building Near Blue Hills « CBS Boston There are rattlers there all right, but the last time there was a fatal bite in Massachusetts was 1791, so I suppose we have history going for us.
OK, so it's a year later and the idea of the island is out. Too much public resistance. So instead, let's just let them live everywhere. Oh boy. :shock: In wake of failed Quabbin rattlesnake plan, MassWildlife directed to 'develop a statewide approach' to save species | masslive.com