dianne Wheaton

Thanks for the barrel idea. I have had to release trapped rats from trash cans, so your idea has precedent...

The last name thing gets weirder.. my late husbands first name was Paul.

Others have also cautioned that snakes take the sun on the hard scapes during the day- and will frighten the guests. There is also a low profile fountain feature that may also attract snakes to swim.  A potential for syncronized snake ballet. I want to learn more about black garden snakes, and calculate the installation. Perhaps after all the benefits and risks are weighed, the best tact may be to hide them in plain sight. A feature story in the paper about the benefits..." come and view the rat attack army on the plaza."

How quickly will 10 grow to a hundred... how long till they grow enormous on the rat population?  If you know of any black garden snake resources... please forward.

I am the caretaker of a major urban park that has been seriously neglected.

Part of my task is to address the rats. Tons of rats. The Dept. of Rats in this city responds that they will need 40 K to treat for rats/ one year. Don't think anyone wants to spend 40K on rat poison.

So- observed an homeless guest and his dog in the park. The dog was having a blast catching rats in the beds. Got to thinking- they have no preditors. These rats are making an unnatural good living here.

So discovered that black garden snakes eat rats. Am thinking about buying a case of live snakes, placing them in the beds and letting them have at it.

Any thoughts... Where to buy common black garden snakes. Whats the best time/way to introduce them to the environment.