Snakes Alive!

 

News item:  Maryland homeowner uses smoke to battle snakes, burns down house

Part of the homeowner’s plan — a decidedly small part — made sense. Snakes have a great sense of smell, experts say, and the odor of smoke, in theory, could prompt them to slither off.

Beyond that, the idea of setting a series of small fires in a residential basement to drive out a snake infestation went horribly wrong. The smoke led to flames that led to a massive fire that destroyed a million dollar home in Maryland.

Officials in Montgomery County late Thursday revealed the unusual cause of the Nov. 23 blaze along Big Woods Road in the relatively spread-out northwestern part of the county. Investigators do not believe open flames were part of the objective. Rather, the Dickerson-area homeowner started the fires in smoke-emitting metal containers, fire officials said.

“That’s not a technique I was familiar with,” said local wildlife biologist Dan Rauch. “I certainly recommend something else for dealing with snakes — starting with calling a professional.”

 Good advice, delivered with a dry sense of humor, Mr. Rauch! 

(Photo: result of a snake extermination plan gone awry/ Montgomery County Fire)