I respect them all. The Ratsnakes are very benificial but one of the most ill-tempered snakes that exist. We usually have one or two that take up residence, in the converted garage, every Spring/Summer/Fall. They are especially benificial as four winters ago we had $10K damage, to three vehicles, wiring harness, from the Woods Rats (pack rats). Been here 26 years and never had this kind of damage.
We are especially caucious. But snakes and all kinds of spiders and vicious bugs are a fact of life out here. I get all kinds of bug bites/stings all the time. Only anaphylactic allergy is to bees and have thousands (strange as it sounds I have no allergies to New World monkey dander/hair but do to Old World Monkeys). Never have gotten a bee sting out here but plenty of wasps and spiders. Needless to say an Anakit is always within a few yards. Although we are "spider haven" and I walk around with plenty of spider bites all the time I've only had one reactive Brown Recluse bite, which I got on really fast with antibiotics and one Black Widow, which made me really sick. DH stayed up all night to make sure I didn't go into respiratory emergency and I didn't but the muscles spasms all over body were plenty uncomfortable.
Only the bravest or most "in denial" come to visit.
Being "medical" we are prepared to treat most emergencies.
Feisty Crazy Greedy Caterpilllar Alice
( put that here just cuz i like it)
