Tell me how to be safe if I encounter a snake (semi rural Texas)

[CobyRupert]

Only tip I know, which is probably more useful hiking than around the yard is don't step over rocks or logs (blindly to the (hidden) backside), step on the log or rock and then see what's on the backside.

 

[BHD]

wear some real shoes when outside,

sandals and bare foot not a great idea, most will not strike above ankle level, snake chaps are not normally needed, you many want them if you ratter hunting and in a place where dens are,

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Keep the place mowed, and BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL walking around at night, especially if you have a lot of rattlesnakes. Watch when you go into your cellar or shelter; watch around old buildings, sheds, etc. I used to kill rattlesnakes in the yard, where we once lived, and the RR, which was only about 50 ft from the house, used to run over them at night and cut them in two.

 

[Egon]

Your problem might require you to relocate to an area where the Temperatures are low enough to provide a snake free environment.

 

[gary49]

Where I live, in central Virginia, we have two poisonous snakes, the copperhead and the timber rattler. I worry a whole lot more about tick and mosquito bites than I do snakes, in spite of the fact that my son has been bitten (as an adult) by a copperhead. Just don't do stupid stuff like walk around in the dark in flip flops without a flashlight like he did. Do study up on your snake ID, lots of snakes get killed by folks who don't know the difference between the poisonous and non poisonous ones. You might even find some of them are pretty interesting, the hog nosed snake comes to mind as an example.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Where I live, in central Virginia, we have two poisonous snakes, the copperhead and the timber rattler. I worry a whole lot more about tick and mosquito bites than I do snakes, in spite of the fact that my son has been bitten (as an adult) by a copperhead. Just don't do stupid stuff like walk around in the dark in flip flops without a flashlight like he did. Do study up on your snake ID, lots of snakes get killed by folks who don't know the difference between the poisonous and non poisonous ones. You might even find some of them are pretty interesting, the hog nosed snake comes to mind as an example.

OMG! You just plunked my magic twanger. If I can find it, I'll post my hog-nosed snake story. To be continued...



Back in the olden days, my Dad was the supervisor of a sand pit, that
shipped sand by rail all over the Southwest, and our house was on the same
property. It was so sandy, that nothing would grow except maybe a few sand
burrs. Out little "house beyond the house" was close by, and surrounded by
ankle deep sand. We also were blessed with an abundance of rattle snakes,
which tended to hang out in the outbuildings. We found quite a few that
didn't quite make it across the RR tracks that serviced the sand pit. My
younger brother, who was deathly afraid of snakes, had the experience of
entering the facility, shutting the door, only to find a hog nosed snake
behind the door. Having had this experience, he was always on the alert, and
very, very cautious.

One morning before school, I saw him enter the privy. After he shut the
door, I sneaked up behind, waited until he got settled and all was quiet,
and then I made a "snake hissing sound" as loudly as I could. He yelled at
the top of his voice: " AWWWWWWWWWW", I heard the door bang open and he came
running, best he could, in the ankle deep sand with his jeans down around
his ankles. Of course I laughed my butt off, but he wasn't amused. When he
turned around all red faced, he made some remark akin to "I'll get you for
that you SOB, if it's the last thing I do". I still think it was funny. He
never got over his fear of snakes, and dispatched quite a few in his
lifetime. He died a couple years ago and I really miss the little ****.

At his funeral, I met his boss and some of the folks he worked for (this
company recovered explosives from old ordinance). They told me that when he
went into the field, he always took his shootin' iron and shot every snake
he saw. His boss asked me why he was so afraid of snakes...

 

[rekees4300]

What are the best practices to stay safe if my family members come across a snake?

Talk to your neighbors to find out what venomous snakes are in your area and learn what each looks like. If you come across one near you simply walk away. They wont chase you. Worse thing you can do is to try to kill it or relocate it. That's the best way to get bitten!

Venomous Snakes of Texas - Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

 

[/pine]

One thing about copperheads is when they are disturbed they will emit an odor that is similar to cucumbers...this smell can alert you to their nearby presence...FWIW

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Copperheads are the most common to bite in these areas.

My buddy got bit while picking green beans. The snake might have slithered up into the bush. Kick it before you pick it.

Timber rattlers are kind of rare and protected.

Water moccasins are bad around water areas.

My mom hates snakes.

This is the time of year they come out...when it warms up. Keep your place cleared.

Guinea hens will alert to snakes. I hear hogs will eat them.

Whipper dog will sling them to another area code.

 

[sandman2234]

For some reason, I thought the original poster requested us not to post pictures of snakes...
David from jax