Less savoury side of farm life (warning graphic pictures)

Green pastures, grazing cattle, gum trees abound with blossoms, while the Kookaburras sing, are some of the beautiful aspects of life on the farm. It is quite picturesque and can be very soothing to the soul when the days are tough. 

However, as always, there is a flip side.

This time of year snakes are in their element, both urban and rural residents are reporting them, yet we have been fortunate to have encountered only a few during this past year. With rubble everywhere, low lying bushes and a large expanse of bushland it is expected to come across a few of the slithery suckers - Tigers and Browns are most common, along with a few Blacks.

I must admit none of them are welcome.

Young Tiger not overly impressed by my attention

All venomous, with the Tigers particularly aggressive, shovels are strategically placed around the farm - hayshed, wood pile, old dairy and off course the back and front doors, just in case we need to do some self defence.
The dogs should be our best defence against snakes, announcing their proximity, however our little Kelpie, would prefer to antagonise them and go bite for bite with a mad Tiger snake. The old Lab also thinks its amusing cheering her on (until they are both screamed at by the boss).

A large black snake spent Christmas day with us, only metres from the festivities (hiding off course!) It's unknown presence created a little extra spice and mystery to the occasion.

Like a hose but more poisonous

We have found them resting in the shade of long grass, crossing the road and sliding through the paddocks - which explains why we are noisy and very observant while plodding in our work boots, and long pants despite the sweltering temperatures.



Our other major issue is rabbits, you know the cute fluffy kind. Hundreds of the little vermin  run over the paddocks, at dusk they are out in force and wreak havoc on the ground.They dig up everything, everywhere, ruining the land around us.

One of hundreds

I don't know why they are so bad this year but they need to be gone. Rabbits and feral cats are equally challenging.

Feral cat, well fed and mean

Eating native birds, lizards, frogs and other wildlife, they are aggressive and continue to breed! Unfortunately we have our fair share of them and they too must be gone. Foxes are in this category too, but to date they have escaped the fate of the others.

And finally the lice of the sky - Indian Minor Birds. 

Lice of the sky

These introduced pests spread diseases amongst chickens, steal their food and take over the nests of native birds, pushing the babies out to die.one pair of these birds can reproduce up 220,000 off-spring over ten years, nasty business.
The only way we have been able to successfully reduce their number is by trapping and then drowning them.

It is a losing battle but we continue to try.

Til next time

N