I follow the blog Postal News for gems like this: On Chase Avenue, in the Rogers Park neighborhood in Chicago, they've only gotten two mail deliveries in the past two weeks. The reason? The carrier says there are too many snakes! Residents are frustrated because the Post Office isn’t doing anything about the problem and the mail carrier left a notice saying they had to provide an alternative mail receptacle if they wanted their mail. It made the local news even.
I find it funny, but hey, I don't even have snakes and there's a problem getting mail at my house in Chicago. That's one of the reasons why I have a P.O. Box. I do think that the route should be handled by another carrier until the breeding season for garter snakes is over. This situation has not been handled correctly. What do you think?
P.S. COMPEX is this weekend!
Nothing surprises me any more in Chicago.
Posted by: Cynthia | May 20, 2016 at 09:24 AM
At my house, I have to watch out for rattlesnakes. I live in rural west Texas.
Posted by: IArmas | May 20, 2016 at 12:33 PM
I know carriers aren't obligated to deliver if there is an unleashed dog in the yard. Seems same should go for unleashed snakes and other critters that could do harm.
Posted by: Abby Nolan | May 20, 2016 at 01:54 PM
I think that they should just ask a mail carrier who isn't afraid to handle the block. I find the whole situation hilarious when garter snakes are harmless. But then again growing up in Texas I'm used the critters
Posted by: Alyssabeth | May 20, 2016 at 02:36 PM
So envious of a place that has garter snakes. We used to play with them as kids, but now Seattle has so few that I haven't seen one in over a year.
Seems as if routes could be traded to allow for mail delivery - reasonable accommodation for the carrier if it's a problem that education and information can't solve. I'd hate to see the snakes harmed. . .
Posted by: Lisa | May 21, 2016 at 02:37 PM
They are so close to us here that I find it hard to believe the snakes are dangerous. We have one poisonous snake in MI and it's bite is apparently about equivalent to a bee sting.
Posted by: Cherie | May 23, 2016 at 11:50 PM