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Mothballs Do Not Repel Snakes

Article by: Jessica Warren, ANR Agent, Camden County

Every year I see it and every year I get calls about it. There’s an old wives’ tale that moth balls will repel snakes from your yard or wherever else you don’t want them – this is completely false. Why do I care so much if you believe moth balls repel snakes? Because it’s dangerous.

Moth balls are a registered insecticide. Any use outside of what’s on the label is illegal. Unless you are storing wool clothing in an airtight closet or container, you never have a need to purchase moth balls. Moth balls may be fatal if inhaled. You should not breathe in the dust or the vapors, and it’s also harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. This doesn’t just apply to humans, but pets and wildlife as well. Spreading moth balls outside is illegal, but more importantly it’s dangerous (and potentially lethal) to you, your children or grandchildren, your pets, wildlife, and pollinators. Moth balls are toxic to surface waters and their inhabitants and cannot be used near food plants. I received a call recently from a client whose neighbor had spread snake repellant near the property line which contained the same active ingredient as moth balls. The granules had washed onto her property around her muscadine vines and vegetable garden. Unfortunately, I had to advise her that none of these plants were safe to harvest after this exposure.

There are no effective repellants for snakes or any other type of wildlife. Research has proven this time and time again. These are simply gimmicks that are for sale because someone will buy them – quite literally snake oil. The only effective way to reduce snakes (or any wildlife) in the landscape is habitat modification. Keeping the landscape well mowed and free of debris will reduce the snakes you see, but nothing will guarantee their absence. You have chosen to live in a beautiful and ecologically diverse area, with that comes a diversity of wildlife. When you see a snake, they are usually on the move from one area to another. They do not maintain nests or dens. Any snake can be safely moved on its way with a spray from a garden hose. Most snake bites occur when someone is attempting to harass or harm a snake, or from walking outside in the dark in sandals or without shoes. A little common sense is the best snake repellant. Believe it or not, snakes see humans as predators, and they want a negative interaction even less than you do. If given the opportunity they will hide or flee. Giving them that chance is safest and best for everybody. If you have questions about snakes or need a snake identified, email me. Just keep in mind that I need a picture that is clear enough so that I can discern identifying characteristics. Pictures of dead snakes are not appreciated. 

Georgia Green Landscape Stewards promote sustainable landscape practices at home

By Maria M. Lameiras

Three years after its debut, the Georgia Green Landscape Stewards program is expanding throughout the state with the assistance of University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener volunteers.

Launched in 2021 by Camden County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent Jessica Warren and Martin Wunderly, area water agent for UGA Extension’s Northeast District, the program provides fact-based information to help property owners implement sustainable practices in their landscapes. Using a points-based system, the program has certified more than 200 private properties, public spaces and pollinator gardens in 47 counties as Georgia Green Landscapes, with new applications coming in every month.

“County offices give out materials on the program and, even if they are not officially utilizing the program, they are referring garden clubs, plant societies and community groups to the program for speaking topics or to use program materials in club meetings or classes,” said Warren, who also travels around the state to teach classes or give talks on the program.

Accessible resources

Because the full curriculum is available on the program website — complete with educational videos and other self-guided resources to educate property owners on implementing sustainable green practices in their landscapes — Master Gardener volunteers have been invaluable in sharing the program more broadly in their respective areas, she added.

Current video lessons feature Warren and Wunderly presenting topics including protecting natural resources, increasing plant and animal biodiversity, conserving soil and water, providing wildlife and pollinator habitat, and improving public and environmental health. Warren hopes to be able to create outdoor instructional videos to demonstrate practices taught in the program in a backyard setting.

Greening urban landscapes

Interest in the program has been strong in Georgia’s metropolitan areas — Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Forsyth, Bartow and Paulding counties in metro Atlanta as well as around Savanah, Macon and Columbus — especially when the program is presented to the public through classes.

“These certifications are happening mostly in and around cities, but that is probably where this program can make the biggest impact because habitats have been so altered with urban sprawl,” Wunderly said. “It’s time to start bringing landscapes and spaces back to nature, and more people doing this in metro areas could make a bigger impact on air and water quality.”

Heather Kolich, Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Forsyth County, coordinated Master Gardener volunteers in her county to offer the program through a five-week certification series in partnership with the Forsyth County Public Libraries.

“We’ve used the Georgia Green Landscape Stewards curriculum as the basis for building a speakers bureau and letting some of our volunteers help us reach additional clients beyond what we could do with the regular staff,” said Kolich, adding that Master Gardener volunteers, who are familiar with much of the program’s subject matter, were trained on presenting the program to the public.

Educational impact

The five-session sustainable landscapes series has been held four times at four different libraries in Forsyth County in spring and fall of 2022 and 2023. Kolich said the classes aligned with the needs assessment for the county, which identified sustainable landscaping, home food gardening and pollinators as top priorities. The free sessions were open to the public, attracting 354 participants.

Forsyth County now has more certified Georgia Green Landscape Stewards than any other Georgia county. Camden County is in second place for certifications.

“We know that homeowners control a lot of acreage, so their decisions about what they do in their landscapes can have a tremendous impact for good,” Kolich added. “Hopefully one of the outcomes is that the people who go through this program will talk with their neighbors about it and get more people adopting more environmentally friendly practices. It lowers the impact on the environment and lessens the burden of landscape care on them.”

Full information on the program is available at site.extension.uga.edu/georgiagreen. For assistance with the program in your area, contact your local UGA Extension office by visiting extension.uga.edu/county-offices.

GA DNR: Clean Feeders Save Birds!

Sick birds are occasionally reported in backyards across Georgia. A common denominator in these incidents is feeders and feeding areas that are not cleaned regularly.
Birds are at risk from a variety of diseases that can flourish when birds flock to neglected feeders.

 Wildlife biologist Todd Schneider of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said the public can help by cleaning their feeders regularly. “A hygienic bird feeder can reduce the risk tremendously.”
Conditions in and around feeders help spur sicknesses ranging from conjunctivitis to avian pox.

Bacterial diseases are transmitted orally and through the accumulation of fecal matter beneath feeders. Birds infected with salmonellosis, the disease caused by the bacteria salmonella, often act lethargic and are easily approached, although other infected birds may show no symptoms.

Birds with conjunctivitis have crusty-looking eyes, may lose their sight and often remain perched on feeders even when approached.

Fungal issues such as aspergillosis, which can cause respiratory distress in birds, are often the result of a buildup of wet and moldy seed hulls beneath feeders.

Avian pox causes wart-like lesions on a bird’s face, legs or feet. More severe cases can cause lesions in their throat, compromising their ability to breathe and eat and sometimes leading to secondary infections. Avian pox can be transmitted from bird to bird by mosquitos, as well as between sick and healthy birds at feeders.

“We see a lot of issues involving salmonella,” said Schneider, an ornithologist with DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section. “Salmonellosis and aspergillosis are not unusual among feeder birds.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Where bird feeders, feedings areas and even birdbaths are concerned, these and other debilitating illnesses can often be prevented with proper, routine hygiene. Schneider recommends the following:

  • Clean feeders weekly using a 10-percent bleach solution – one part bleach to nine parts water – and rinse them thoroughly. After washing, let the feeders dry completely. (Always wear protective gloves while cleaning feeders, feeding areas and bird baths, and wash carefully afterward.)
  • Rake up bird seed, hulls and fecal matter beneath feeders two or more times a week. Wear a mask to avoid inhaling fungal spores stirred up by raking.
  • If you have multiple feeders, space them out to help limit gatherings of birds.
  • Move feeders regularly. A move even 20 feet away lowers the risk of disease transmission. 
  • Empty and clean bird baths every two days when bird visitation is heavy. (This also discourages breeding mosquitos from using the bath water!)

What to do if you or neighbors see sick birds at your feeders? Schneider said you can help prevent the spread of disease by taking down the feeders for a week, which will encourage birds to disperse.

Noting that “not all bird feeders are equal,” he also offered a few suggestions about feeder designs. “Plastic and glass feeders are significantly more sanitary and easier to clean than wood feeders, which can absorb moisture,” he said.

Schneider stressed the importance, too, of reporting widespread disease to DNR. “A single dead bird isn’t a cause for alarm, but four or more dead birds in a short amount of time could signal a problem and should be reported to DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.”

Report incidents to Todd Schneider at todd.schneider@dnr.ga.gov. Do not handle dead birds with bare hands. For more on bird diseases, visit https://feederwatch.org/learn/sick-birds-and-bird-diseases.

ABOUT BIRD FLU

Cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and other domestic birds as well as in some wild birds throughout the U.S. and Canada have raised concern about possible impacts on songbirds.
However, research suggests that avian flu is unlikely to become widespread in songbirds except for scavenging species such as crows and possibly in areas where the risk of transmission is higher, such as near infected poultry facilities or gatherings of infected waterfowl.

HELP CONSERVE WILDLIFE

DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section works to conserve songbirds and other wildlife not legally fished for or hunted, as well as rare plants and natural habitats. The agency does this largely through public support from fundraisers, grants and contributions.

Key fundraisers include sales of the eagle and monarch butterfly license plates, as well as annual renewals of these and the ruby-throated hummingbird tags. These plates cost only $25 more than a standard plate to buy or renew. Up to $20 of that fee goes to help wildlife.

Supporters also can donate online at https://www.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com. Click “Licenses and Permits” and log in. (New customers will need to create an account.) Learn more at https://georgiawildlife.com/donations. Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/conservation/annualreport to see how your support is put to work.


Invasive Species Alert! – Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Tree-of-heaven is an invasive tree that is native to China. It was introduced to the US in 1784 as an ornamental and is found throughout most of the continental states. This tree typically lives 50 years, though some specimens can live over 100 years.

Appearance

  • A rapidly growing, often small deciduous tree up to 80 ft (24.4 m) tall and 6 ft (1.8 m) diameter.
  • Twigs have large, heart-shaped leaf scars.
  • Bark is smooth with lenticels and light grey; develops fissures with age. Leaves and other parts smell like rancid peanut butter.
  • Leaves are pinnately compound, 1-4 ft (0.3-1.2m) long, with 10-41 leaflets. Glandular, notched base present on each leaflet.
  • Flowers occur in early summer when large terminal clusters of small, yellow flowers on 20 in (50 cm) long stems develop above the foliage.
  • Fruit are single winged, tan to reddish, with one central seed and can be wind or water-dispersed. Fruit can persist through the winter.

More Info

  • Plant releases allelopathic chemicals, suppressing other plant species’ growth.
  • If cut down, tree aggressively resprouts from the roots, which makes control difficult.
  • An individual tree can produce 325,000 seeds/year.

Know the Difference! Invasive vs. Native

Native staghorn & smooth sumacs (Rhus typhina & R. glabra) looks similar to tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

Native species: staghorn & smooth sumacs (Rhus typhina & R. glabra)

  • Leaflets have small, sharp teeth along
  • margin; no glands on underside
  • Distinct clusters of red, hairy fruits
  • No strong, unpleasant odor

Additional Tree of Heaven Info

Report Invasive Species Sightings

To report sightings: Reporting, maps, and more on invasive, pest, and biocontrol species

Invasive Species Alert! – Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), has not yet been found in Georgia, but it is a well-known invasive in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic and we want to know if/when it gets to Georgia. This insect is fairly easy to ID in the US and is an adult right now in the areas it is found. It has a very wide host range and is important to know where it is. People can report invasive species via https://www.eddmaps.org/ and experts that participate as EDDMapS Verifiers will review the records.

Overview

Spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper, is native to parts of China and Southeast Asia and was unintentionally introduced to South Korea. In the US, it was detected in Pennsylvania in September 2014, but it has since spread to several other states across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. It poses a serious threat to US grape, orchard, and logging industries, as well as to natural ecosystems.

Life Stages

Eggs are usually laid on smooth surfaces of host plants but also on materials with flat surfaces, such as bricks, stones, and lumber. They hatch from spring to early summer. The nymphal stage has four instars, the first three are black with white spots. Fourth instar nymphs are red and black with white spots. Adult are 0.81-1.04 in (2-2.6 cm) long from head to the end of the folded wing. They have red, black, grey, and white wings and a black and yellow body. Adults appear in late July and begin laying eggs in September.

Hosts

Feed on the sap of almonds, apples, apricots, cherries, grapes, nectarines, oak, peaches, pine, plums, poplar, walnut, and more. Often associated with tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

Additional Spotted Lanternfly Info

Report Invasive Species Sightings

To report sightings: Reporting, maps, and more on invasive, pest, and biocontrol species