snakes?

[bhs2a]

Are there snakes on the island? Not that I am particularly afraid of them but I wouldn't want to walk around in the dark and think snakes were there.
When is the rainy season? and when is sunrise and sundown?

Thanks

[rdecastro]

I've never seen any snakes - there are lizards, though. They start small and can grow quite large, they're beneficial in that they eat insects.

It rains pretty much all year long.

Sunrise is when the sun goes up, sundown is when it goes down. Right now, they're both around 6-6:30 but it changes a little.

[desai29]

visit CIA
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/nt.html

[jameslynton]

Found FAQ on a website - there are no snakes on Saba, you do have lizards and land crabs. Shoes are always a good idea. Note - editing this post - website was found to be wrong.

[gianefiasco]

in FAQ itsayas there are no bugs?? is this true??

[rdecastro]

in FAQ itsayas there are no bugs?? is this true??

No. There are lots of flying insects (flies, mosquitos) and the occasional ant and cockroach.

[jameslynton]

Searching back in the posts - some one else asked this question - several post said there are some black racer type snakes found on the higher trails called the ladder. However, I am not sure how good that thread was because they jumped into bugs, mythical beasts and guppies in the water tanks.

[rdecastro]

Searching back in the posts - some one else asked this question - several post said there are some black racer type snakes found on the higher trails called the ladder. However, I am not sure how good that thread was because they jumped into bugs, mythical beasts and guppies in the water tanks.

The ladder is a trail from the road to Wells Bay (the beach) down a long flight of stairs, to a small cove. It's not a 'higher' trail. As a matter of fact, using the Saba definition, it's a 'lower' trail...it's below the road (In Hells gate the defining characteristic is the location relative to the Church).

[50ishdoc]

"Saba is crawling with harmless racer snakes that sun themselves along trails and roadsides."
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinat...nvironment.htm (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/caribbean/saba/environment.htm)

[jameslynton]

Hey rdecastro, Thanks for the explaination of what and where the ladder is. Are there snakes there? I don't really care myself, I grew up in the southern US - so am use to bugs, snakes and such. I keep my eyes open and watch where I step. I do know and repect that other's have issues with any kind of snake.

[jameslynton]

Hi 50ishdoc - I saw that link also but did not see a reference on that website to the snakes. My eyes maybe missed something then?

[50ishdoc]

Nope you didn't miss anything, I copied and pasted a piece from Saba's forum on 03/22/05, and it was accurate then. Don't know how to refer to that thread now. Since then it has changed (the citation I made).

Sure were lots of those little buggers when I was there in 2003 (the snakes). My bad.

[krust3]

i'm bringing my trouser snake with me. i don't go anywhere without it since he makes most of my decisions...

[sabaspouse2006]

There are snakes. One of our SOS members had one in her kitchen but she always left her doors open for the breeze.

And spiders, ants, beetles, flies, cockroaches, tons of ants (some that bite)....tropical island and all that........

R/

[islandhopper]

I saw snakes at least three times. There are Iguanas too. Not to mention lizards and flys -- flys are lizards' favourite meal...Quite a sight when you see how lizards catch flys with their tongues at the Chinese restaurent at the Bottom...

I am not sure if the snakes are poisoneous -- probably not. The largest I saw was about 2.5 feet long and appeared black -- garden snake I suppose. Twice I saw along the trail between the Hillside dorm and the school -- the trail probably isn't far from their nest. Watch your steps as you walk through the trail if you're afraid of snakes...

[jameslynton]

Nice post Islandhopper. Thanks for heads up.

[bhs2a]

Is our best protection from the bugs is to just wear a lot of bug repellant? Is there anything else that we could bring from the states that would be beneficial?
Like something to put down in the house to keep ants and such out.

[sabaspouse2006]

Nah, don't worry about it. The best protection is to keep a clean house. No crumbs on the floor. Any insect repellent stuff you could ever want is here. Don't ship any. Really. The grocery stores are full of it.....

I'm not fond of bugs either. It isn't near as bad as it sounds. We have no mosquitos here in Windwardside. I shipped bug repellent for the children and haven't needed it even one time.

R/

[rdecastro]

Nah, don't worry about it. The best protection is to keep a clean house. No crumbs on the floor. Any insect repellent stuff you could ever want is here. Don't ship any. Really. The grocery stores are full of it.....

I'm not fond of bugs either. It isn't near as bad as it sounds. We have no mosquitos here in Windwardside. I shipped bug repellent for the children and haven't needed it even one time.

R/

Yeah, props to BOP!

[50ishdoc]

You might bring a product called Terro, you can get it at hardward stores. The ants eat it, take it home with them, and die at their nest. Cheap, works well, and fun to watch the ants crawl around it.

[pinkdefish]

should I get a canopy to put up around the bed...so I won't be bothered in the middle of the night?

[rdecastro]

No. Besides, the construction here is all concrete (including the ceilings) - how would you attach it?

[swinginislanddoc]

The snakes definitely exist. We had some around our house - actually once my roommate came flying out of the bathroom screaming her head off - found a baby black belly racer in there. We had some around the driveway area too. You can find them on the road - one of my classmates used to find dead ones to scare people with. Pretty childish, but pretty dang funny as well.

As much as I really don't like creepy crawlies either, I dealt with them. The snakes are safe, nonpoisonous. The roaches are big, but keep things clean like sabahousewife said. 50's suggestion of Terro is excellent for those little sugar ants - our kitchen would be overrun with them, we'd put a few drops of that stuff out and within 24-48 hours no more ants. I also had to kill centipeds and spiders. Honestly they're harmless but takes a little getting used to. I had to be the brave one of the house and as a result my tolerance grew. The only one that has any poison is the centipede and it just makes the bite hurt for a while. I have a few friends that were bitten by them and said it just hurt.

So in conclusion, yes, you have to deal with lizards and bugs on Saba. It's just a part of living on a Caribbean island, as SHW said. It's definitely livable however. Just don't use too much BOP - there's a reason that stuff isn't approved in the US! ;) (Having said that, it takes a pretty good coating to kill the centipedes, but it does work).

My apologies for spelling errors. I'm no entomologist

Best of luck!
~S :cool:

PS - If you have a lizard in your house (the analus? Can't remember what they're called) leave them there - they eat the bugs!