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Thursday, October 24, 2013

A Snake Hole?

Is this a snake hole?

This is a burning question! When I was a child, we called these "snake holes." We did not have technology to entertain us, and this was free amusement.

This was a perfectly round hole until I stomped on it to see what damage I could do. There is another by the hens' pen. I don't really think these are snake holes any longer. But, what are they?--perfectly round holes in the ground.

Surely, someone out there knows. Just picture it round.

Your turn
What do you think made the round holes? Did you call them snake holes when you were a child?
 
 
 


14 comments:

  1. I've often wondered the same, but I do know that those are water leaves, and I sure do miss water oaks. I do know where one is here in Oregon, but it will never be magnificent like the ones that shaded the streets where I grew up.

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    1. Yes, they are water oaks, the bane of my existence when it comes to raking. However, if I thought about never having it again like you don't, it makes me like it more.

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  2. This is a representative answer to the question: "Do snakes live in holes in the ground?"

    "Snakes do not dig holes. I, too, was told as a child that every hole in the ground was a "snake hole". Later, I learned that this is not true, though that's not to say that a snake wouldn't occasionally take advantage of a pre-made hole, or go down inside one in search of prey. Most of the time, the holes turned out to have been made by rodents, or even large beetle grubs. I've "fished" some really big, fat grubs out of holes that were fairly large in diamter. Pepsis wasps will also dig such holes to stash their larder of paralyzed spiders, caterpillars, or other insects, to lay eggs on, and sometimes the hole's covering gets brushed away, revealing the little "cavern". I myself LOOK for snakes, and I've never found a snake in such a hole. Of course, snakes would be FAR better to have around a garden than either beetle grubs or rodents, since unlike the latter, snakes won't eat the fruits of your labor, or cut through the roots and kill the plants."

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    Replies
    1. Snowbrush,
      Where did you get that answer? Well, that settles it...lol...no one knows for sure. Or, the answer can be...lots of things. I always leave them alone because my mother said to! So, I will not stomp this one again. Thanks.

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    2. I just Googled the question: "Do snakes live in holes in the ground?"

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  3. Growing up I was told that every hole in the ground (or in a tree) was a bunyip hole. And that I was just the sort of juicy treat they were looking for... Which was probably a misguided way of keeping me out of them. Most of our snakes are very venomous.
    And I can't forget our trap-door spides - also poisonous.

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    1. C,
      I had to look up "bunyip," and got sidetracked. That must have been terrifying for a child. But, we do the same thing to kids here. I tried not to unnecessarily frighten my children, but I probably did. People here tell children the boogey man will get them.

      The snakes and spiders in AU do frighten me. One day, I would like to go to AU, but will be extra wary of snakes.

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  4. We called them snake holes. I guess they aren't.

    Love,
    Janie

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  5. when I was little the crawdads lived in such holes as these...we used to stick a stick down it the hole and they would pinch onto it and we would pull them out...wouldnt dare do that stuff now :)

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    1. Cindy,
      I remember that. If these were near a crawdad habitat, well, it is dry right here. So, I still wonder.

      Thanks for reminding me of that.

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  6. Enlarge it a million times, put it in Florida, and we call them sinkholes as we watch a house disappear.

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    1. Well, that is a thought. I just hope this one does not eat my house.

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Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.