I just had a young but fat black racer jump over my head when I bend down to turn on a hose faucet a couple days ago. That was the most dangerious snake I've encountered in a long time. Like to have given me a heart attack.

I just got back about an hour ago and for the two days I was there, it was pretty slow. I got a little variety and one lifer (red milk), but missed two others by about 10 minutes (rattler, and hognose). Here is a quick count for me...I will post pics and stuff as soon as I get them uploaded. Northern Fence Lizard-5-10 Ground Skink-TMTC Yellowbelly Water Snake-2 Midland Brown Snake-1 Eastern Garter Snake-2 Western Ribbon Snake-3 Northern Ringneck Snake-1 Rough Green Snake-2 Black Rat Snake-1 Red Milk Snake-1 Northern/Southern Copperhead-1 Western Cottonmouth-12 Central Newt (eft)-1 Zigzag Salamander-1 Cave Salamander-TMTC Longtail/Dark-sided Salamander-1 Blanchard's Cricket Frog-TMTC Green Treefrog-4 Bronze/Green Frog-TMTC Southern Leopard Frog-TMTC Bullfrog-heard -Andrew

This type of scenario is perfect for someone who wants to have a home occupation and needs the exposure. For instance, a one chair home salon, is regulated by the State in most states, under the Department of Professional Regulation, and in Florida we are required to have only 200 square feet of room, a separate entrance and a bathroom. So, if have a door that opens up to a room, say maybe a carport door opening to a laundry room, then you can have a salon setup situation, because you have plumbing and a buyer may only need add a bath. For someone who wants to work from home, they will do whatever they need to make the extra income on a regular basis. You could advertise that an outbuilding is perfect for a hobbyist, or cabinet maker, pottery barn. THINK BIG, use your resource, which is EXPOSURE and easy access clients. You need only get the permission of your neighbors to do this by having them sign a petition for you. Would that be a possibility for you?

We could go on and on with feel good actions you might try but imo it's much deeper than replacing a brush pile that was destroyed. Since you are interested in the environment the best advice I can offer is to research "Keystone Species" a relatively new field of study that has had some remarkable reports from around the globe. With the above mindset I offer that something other than a missing brush pile occurred. Also you must consider that a new brush pile could be just more breeding area for rodents. The house with infestation must blitz them with all they can muster because until 100% eliminated from house mice breed so rapid that 4 can repopulate to 50 within weeks. If you don't have the hebee jebees about handling snakes you might capture a few and relocate to your place. We used to have a box in every vehicle for transporting snakes captured on our travels and putting them in farm buildings. If everyone in neighborhood is onboard, barn cats can ha ve an impact on mice. BUT a pair of owls are better than half dozen cats and I've never met anyone that hates owls. In N Tx a Horned Owl box is from size of a double door fridge and up to garage size IF it is not deturbed. Plans for owl boxes I see online are much smaller but that might be ideal for climates different to mine. I love relaxing on my patio while owls call,not unusual to fall asleep. If you attract a pair kids will love feeding them while nesting. How does one feed owls? I use an aluminum handle salvaged form a swimming pool net.. A clamp screwed to end allows hoisting raw meat up where owls can reach it from nest. The idea is that unless area is densely populated with mice and rats fledglings can become malnourished ,get sick and die because parents can't keep up as they grow. If that happens the pair will likly look for another territory. When there's no fledglings to feed the pair can easily expand hunting ground from home base.