Snake scarer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 08:46:31 am
content: I have just had to relocate a big Tiger snake from outside my workshop. I have been thinking about acquiring a sample of the solar-powered spike-in-the-ground 'bleating' scarer to try but would really need a good number of them, plus they are not cheap and seem to last a year before the rain gets into the electronics. I have no idea if this type of scarer works well or at all, and don't really fancy setting up a controlled experiment !The various examples that I have examined all seem to emit a 'squeeking' sound at random duty cycle, so I would assume that at some point someone has empirically decided that this is the most effective sound. This would be very easy to make, and I would obviously make a giant version working on the principle that 'bigger is much better'.I wonder if anyone has had a go at this, or has any ideas/theories.If I had not heard a commercial unit in operation I would have assumed that a vibration from slug in a coil at 50/60Hz might be the way to go, after all snakes must be attuned to the noise of small mice and geckos.Any thoughts?BT

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 10:06:42 am
content: Quote from: BurningTantalum on January 28, 2016, 08:46:31 amGoogle?

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 10:40:05 am
content: Hmmm, that's interesting. I checked a couple of other videos, and apart from the 'snake handlers' being a whole lot braver than I am, the 'saucer' type don't seem to work at all.I looked on Google to see if anyone had built their own experimental unit but found nothing.I guess that I will have to keep chucking rocks at them. A big fine though if I hit one !I have been worried about my roller door being open all day, so am about to fit a couple of stainless wires across the threshold connected to a derated fence energiser.BT

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 11:10:26 am
content: Quote from: BurningTantalum on January 28, 2016, 10:40:05 amSame for all the other ultrasonic rat repellents, mosquito repellents, cat repellents, etc. that they sell in the shops. Worse than useless.You'd think they'd be banned by now, but nooooo ... let's keep on ripping people off.

author: Srbel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 12:12:58 pm
content: Yeah, I made a few electronic (sound) mosquito repellents and mole repellents. They don't seem to work. I mean, they emit sound (unhearable), but it does nothing...

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 12:47:05 pm
content: This is a real scandal !The rat, cat, mole and mosquito units must be relatively easy to check for effectiveness, by the consumer AND by the supplier/manufacturer. Snakes are a different matter.I am appalled. These things are not cheap, and everyone seems to have them planted around the houses. When asked they all enthuse as to their efficacy- "Haven't seen a snake since we installed the units..." Probably never saw one before either !BT

author: CaveMannDave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 01:13:44 pm
content: Howdy:I know nothing about where you live or your native snake_species/venom_activity/aggressiveness, and etc.Around here (West Texas, USA), we have several lethal species, but most are seldom troublesome except if surprised or brooding. Most are harmless rodent predators, and avoid human habitation.I have been TOLD, by many old timers around here, that keeping Domestic Cats around your property (raise and feed them, but not too well) will keep snakes away, or that laying FAT, rough, Hemp rope around the property will discourage them from crossing the line, but these may only apply to North American Pit Vipers, or could even be Folklore.As several historical military commanders have observed, add as many layers to your Defences as it takes to repel the invader, however weak each alone might be.Defence In Depth!!Hope this helps.Cheers,Dave

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2016, 01:23:11 pm
content: Quote from: BurningTantalum on January 28, 2016, 12:47:05 pmUhuh, and if a snake gets through it's because they haven't got enough of them, right? There was a gap in the perimeter...