Old Mr. NoShoulders - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

smellslike$tome · 01-18-2008, 11:18 PM

I have found, as I am sure most of you have as well, all manner of creatures in meter boxes. This of course includes the occasional snake. Never however have I found one in January with sleet falling. It actually was not in the meter box but in a hole that the ho had dug about a week prior right next to the meter box in an effort to find the leak. I went to clear some leaves out of the hole so I could see and when I got almost to the bottom I flipped him over on his back and didn't realize there was a snake at all until that yellow belly flashed. Man that will sure wake you up on a cold January morning! Not sure what kind he was but did believe him to be non-poisonous so we practiced catch and relocation/release.

What's the craziest thing you've found in a meter box?

KillerToiletSpider · 01-18-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellslike$tome

I have found, as I am sure most of you have as well, all manner of creatures in meter boxes. This of course includes the occasional snake. Never however have I found one in January with sleet falling. It actually was not in the meter box but in a hole that the ho had dug about a week prior right next to the meter box in an effort to find the leak. I went to clear some leaves out of the hole so I could see and when I got almost to the bottom I flipped him over on his back and didn't realize there was a snake at all until that yellow belly flashed. Man that will sure wake you up on a cold January morning! Not sure what kind he was but did believe him to be non-poisonous so we practiced catch and relocation/release.

What's the craziest thing you've found in a meter box?

On meters with or without a fish trap on them?

smellslike$tome · 01-18-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerToiletSpi

On meters with or without a fish trap on them?

Either, but I have no idea what a fish trap is as it relates to a meter box.

KillerToiletSpider · 01-18-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellslike$tome

Either, but I have no idea what a fish trap is as it relates to a meter box.

Water in Chicago is drawn from Lake Michigan, back in the days before water treatment plants, all meters were equipped with a fish trap on the inlet side, that could be opened and cleaned out, to remove fish and mussels that made their way into the water system. Plenty of older high rises still have these meters in place.

smellslike$tome · 01-18-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerToiletSpi

Water in Chicago is drawn from Lake Michigan, back in the days before water treatment plants, all meters were equipped with a fish trap on the inlet side, that could be opened and cleaned out, to remove fish and mussels that made their way into the water system. Plenty of older high rises still have these meters in place.

Do you still find the remains of fish and mussels in them leftover from before the treatment plants?

smellslike$tome · 01-18-2008, 11:47 PM

I don't think I would mind fish and mussels but I don't like the snakes and black widows.

KillerToiletSpider · 01-18-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellslike$tome

Do you still find the remains of fish and mussels in them leftover from before the treatment plants?

I have removed fish skeletons a few times.

smellslike$tome · 01-19-2008, 12:01 AM

I wouldn't imagine you run across too many snakes in high rises. That is unless someone's "pet" got loose. That'd be something though wouldn't it. Open up a chase wall and get a big surprise. Plenty of rats I bet. If he got in there he might never have to leave.

threaderman · 01-19-2008, 11:06 AM

I found out the hard way about red ants in Florida meter boxes.Vegas and Oklahoma have a lot of Black Widows in their meter boxes.No see-ums in Florida on sandy property [very irritating bug],also ran into a few gators there.Copper heads are another threat here in Oklahoma,and brown recluse spiders.Ahh,memories!

rex · 01-19-2008, 11:43 AM

worst thing i have ever came across is bee hives next to gas meters or in attics

threaderman · 01-19-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rex

worst thing i have ever came across is bee hives next to gas meters or in attics

and under every frickin mobile home!!!Or is that wasps??

Grumpyplumber · 01-19-2008, 04:50 PM

Dead hornet nest in an attic once, thought nothing of it till I started soldering and hot wax started dripping on my forearm...stuff sucks in heat and retains it.
The red spots on my arm were good proof.

smellslike$tome · 01-19-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpyplumber

Dead hornet nest in an attic once, thought nothing of it till I started soldering and hot wax started dripping on my forearm...stuff sucks in heat and retains it.
The red spots on my arm were good proof.

This reminds me of something else odd that I have experienced and I wonder if anyone else has experienced this.

On a few occasions at various places around Birmingham, while soldering outside, usually building tub valve assemblies, I have found that there is something about my turbo torch that attracts these enormous yellow and black hornets that absolutely scare the crap out of me. It's like it calls them up from hell or something. Once they track down the source of their fascination they just fly around me in circles. Never been stung but it is very unnerving because these things are huge, I'd say about 1/2 the size of a hummingbird and they sound very similar to a hummingbird. They are nasty looking and hard to kill because they are so fast. I did manage to barbecue one once though. It doesn't take much blue flame to drop one it's just difficult to get them to agree to fly through it. They are always alone which is good because I'm afraid if I ever saw more than one at a time I would probably drop my torch and run away screaming like a little girl. They really creep me out.

Anybody ever seen one of these?