Katra > wrote in message >...
> > You need a good colony of Texas Glossy snakes. Set up a habitat for
> > them (woodpile, area to bask, water nearby), and ask a breeder to sell
> > you a mated pair or two. Once established, it is unlikely the
> > rattlers will hang around for too long, and mice/rats will be
> > non-existent.
> >
> > -L.
>
> Are glossy's better than Texas Rat Snakes or Bull Snakes?

Not really - any of the the Colubrids (Glossy, Rats and Bulls) will be
just as each other.

> I'm regretting now relocating the Rat Snakes that I had here!
> I trapped them and gave them away because they were killing my
> baby pigeons! That is when the rat problem started... <sigh> And
> since the rats kill baby pigeons too, I'm still in the same boat. :-(
>
> Seems I just can't win.
>
> I'd be interested in re-introducing a smaller snake that would not go
> for birds?

All of them will eat baby birds but rodents are preferred prey. The
Rat snake is probably your best bet - I think it is the smallest of
the three (I don't have my reference guide handy, or I would look it
up!).

>
> I currently have a blue racer that eats my grasshoppers. :-) Funny, I
> was having a problem with 'hoppers eating plants until this snake
> appeared. He's been here now for abut 3 years and I see him/her from
> time to time. I tried to capture it initially as that species also tends
> to eat lizards and frogs, and I have a very nice population of med'
> geckos and toads. (I'm very much into natural control/organic gardening
> without the use or minimal use of pesticides).
>
> When I finally managed to catch the snake one day, it had a very, very
> large grasshopper in it's teeth so I told the snake that if it was
> willing to eat 'hoppers, it could live here, then I tossed it back into
> the garden! <G>

Racers are meaner than all get out! I'm surprised you could catch it.
They are also one of the most diverse in their predatory behavoirs -
they will eat almost anything.

>
> So, I more than welcome beneficial snakes here. I have no fear of them...

Seriously, I'd establish some Rats or Glossys. They are less likely
to eat the birds than the rats. Sounds like you have a cool property!

-L.