Is this a safe broom stick?!

So I found a shovel/ broom handle and cut it because I had the idea to make a climbing obstacle that would fit across the entire tank 1-2" above the ground. I completely forgot snakes cannot be near pine and cedar. I have no idea what wood this is..? Can anyone help identify? Or if it is safe? Its not treated. The wood is actually hard and not soft.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...pscaatlugj.jpg
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...psvb1oc9oh.jpg
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...pslu4durqz.jpg
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps2wtxdevq.jpg

Thought pine was ok, that cedar was the only wood they couldn't be around.

I do dendrochronology stuff so if you can get a picture of a cross-section I can probably tell you whether it's pine or not. It's definitely not cedar.

It's probably pine though. Most cheap wood products are made of pine, and the color and grain look pretty pine-like, but I'd need to see rings to be 100% sure.

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Originally Posted by DVirginiana

I do dendrochronology stuff so if you can get a picture of a cross-section I can probably tell you whether it's pine or not. It's definitely not cedar.

It's probably pine though. Most cheap wood products are made of pine, and the color and grain look pretty pine-like, but I'd need to see rings to be 100% sure.

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For sure! here is the cross section
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...pspjmmsurp.jpg
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/o...pstzrxuqpz.jpg

Hm... It's kind of hard to tell because of the wood having been cut in an odd way to make the broom handle, but the second picture actually looks like hardwood, maybe something in the birch family...

Even if it were pine though, I doubt a solid stick of pine will hurt your snake. Several people on here have used actual pine bedding with no problems. I'm not going to get into that debate because I don't really know enough about it, but I think it's a safe bet that just a piece of solid wood wouldn't release enough of the potentially irritating oils to worry about regardless.

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Originally Posted by lorrainesmom

Thought pine was ok, that cedar was the only wood they couldn't be around.

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I believe that kiln dried pine is OK because it takes the harmful oils out. But any other pine would not be. And yes, cedar is not an acceptable option.

You can use that, its the milled pine thats not all that great + the dust (as others said chemicals) That should be ok, BUT i would gave a animal safe sealant, since he can/will leave gifts on it :rolleye2: aswell as overall humidity will cause wood damage. Once sealed youll be 100% ok