TADEVOSYAN'S

HERPETOLOGICAL RESOURCES (THR)

VENOMOUS SNAKES OF ARMENIA V.13.1.0.

HOW TO MANAGE AN AREA? (Armenian)

How to identify venomous snakes in Armenia? How to avoid a snake bite? Introduction

First aid Proffesional care for bitten person or pet

Snakes are cold-blooded (ectoterm) creatures. In order to survive snakes seek free access to (1) open areas exposed to direct sunlight, (2)food and (3)relialbe shelter to hide from predators, overheat and cold. Therefore snakes are generally attracted to open areas with rocks, deep crevices, piles of debris, building materials on the ground surface and abundance of rodents and/or domestic bird, rabbits, etc. Removing every of above mentioned components, is a part of any cuccessful snake exclusion plan. In many occasions reducing exposure to direct sinlight is possible by densely planting the area with shade developing trees. Choice of trees for planting project will depend of the function of the area, soil qualities, and climate. In general evergreen trees including pines and spruces have a great shade creating capability. Their major disadvantage is slow growth rate. Deciduous broad leaf trees (including fruit anf decoratove trees), will carry dense canopy and provide appropriate shading from late spring to mid-fall, many of them also fast growing and are mostly appropriate for shading large areas. To eliminate available shelters it is wice to keep building materials and debris isolated indoors, or elevated above the ground and covered with solid sheet of synthetic material. Rock piles should be removed from the area. Walls of buildings and fences should have smoooth finish, free of any crevicies that may attract snakes and other wildlife. To prevent area from colonizaiton of rodents - the primarily food for many snakes, the garbage should be stored away of the area, and deratization measures should be performed regularly. Chemical snake repellents available on the market can be used as supplemental measure. Killing snakes is ineffective and illegal in the most of states. Remember, snakes are unique natual control of rodent populaitons, the only group specialized in hunting rodents inside their own dens, and destroyng entire rodent nests at a time.