DATE:    10/31/02
WRITER:  Candace Cummings, (864) 656-7146; ddmmngs@clemson.edu
EDITOR:  Susan Bedingfield, (864) 6563876; sbeding@Clemson.edu

Fact and fiction about things
that go bump in the night

                                
                     By Candace Cummings, 
          Clemson Extension Urban Wildlife Specialist
                                

     Fake snakes, bats, mice and toads might be OK for Halloween, but
the real thing things that go bump in the night have scared humankind
since the beginning of time!
     Anything goes to rid ourselves of those things we fear -- from
ultra sonic sound devices that send bats packing, to magical powders
and potions that supposedly repel even the most stubborn of snakes.
     Countless myths and old wives tales abound when it comes to these
creatures, and it might be time to dispel a few and put our minds at
ease. 
     Learn everything you can about the animals that scare you. With
knowledge comes safety and security.
     Let's begin with our favorite Halloween animal - the bat.
     Bats get tangled in your hair. False. People may have thought this
because bats fly over our heads hunting bugs. If a bat flies by you,
it's probably chasing a mosquito.
     Bats are vicious. False. Bats pose little threat to people who
leave them alone; they bite only in self-defense.
     Vampire bats are the only mammals that feed on nothing but blood.
True, but vampire bats live only in Latin America, and most people
there will never see one.
     Bats really are blind. False. Although they don't see in color,
bats see better than we do at night! And, many bats can "see" by sonar.
     How about another creature of the night -- snakes.
     You can tell a poisonous snake by its diamond shaped head. False.
While it's true most of our pit vipers, rattlesnakes, cottonmouths
etc., do have a diamond-shaped head, many beneficial snakes do, too. 
In addition, the coral snake does not have a diamond shaped head,
although it is poisonous.
     Snakes will chase you. False. Most snakes are reclusive and try 
to escape when encountered. Some aggressive snakes, like many of our
non-poisonous water snakes, may attempt to chase you only if disturbed
or threatened.
     It is always best to leave a snake alone. More often than not,
they will leave your area without incident.
     Mothballs repel snakes. False. A study done in Florida suggested
that while some snake species had a few that appeared to be repelled,
nearly all of the snake species in the study had individuals that
crossed over the repellents readily. Further studies suggest that the
mothball odor might actually attract snakes that have become accustomed
to its frequent use.
     Finally, let's consider toads.
     By now, everyone should know that toads don't give you warts. A
toad, when handled, can secrete a noxious substance that may irritate
the skin, but it will not give you warts.
     Actually, toads are a gardener's best friend, gobbling up many
insect pests in its lifetime.
     They also can't cast evil spells or change into a prince when
kissed. If the latter were true, I would have kissed a few myself!
     Happy Halloween everyone!
          ******************************************
     If you have gardening questions, search our website at
www.clemson.edu/psamedia or write to PSA Media Relations, A-101 Poole
Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0129.
                              END