First Snake of the year

[crackerjack222]

If you have snakes, you need to get you some feral hogs. (OK not really...) I used to kill rattlers regularly at my place in so central TX. Then the hogs moved in. No more rattlers, but I do see the occasional racer. My theory is the hogs will kill and eat the snakes that coil up to fight. They can't catch the racers so they are still around. I used to see hog-nosed snakes, but their defense is to roll over and play dead. That does not work with hogs.

 

[Looking4new]

Summer must be here. 2' of snow in the bush and a Copper Bellied Water Snake in the back yard. It was just a little one about a foot long and a little dopy, but it was laying in the sun where it was nice and warm. It became quite docile when I moved it to the shade where the temperature was about 38F.

 

[s219]

The teen in question did not use sound judgement...
Teen bitten by water moccasin he kept on bed

What an idiot.

 

[txdon]

If you have snakes, you need to get you some feral hogs. (OK not really...) I used to kill rattlers regularly at my place in so central TX. Then the hogs moved in. No more rattlers, but I do see the occasional racer. My theory is the hogs will kill and eat the snakes that coil up to fight. They can't catch the racers so they are still around. I used to see hog-nosed snakes, but their defense is to roll over and play dead. That does not work with hogs.

You might be on to something here. I have seen several snakes this spring but the copperhead, which was the most abundant, has not made an appearance. Could it be these guys are taking care of them? - or is it the cool spring? I'll keep you updated.

 

[Eric C]

I killed one big copperhead and one small one mowing around my ponds 2 weeks ago. Sorry folks, but I don't get off the tractor to take pics. If I can't eat it up with the bush hog, I give it some bucket treatment and move on. I always worry another one is near.

 

[txdon]

I always worry another one is near.

That is the old saying around here also about copperheads, and I found it to be true.

 

[Garandman]

Yeah, they got little gang tattoos and everything....:laughing:

So far we don't seem to have feral hogs or poisonous snakes, though there are some feral hogs reported here and there. 9-10' of snow may have something to do with that.

 

[rgr33]

No poisonous snakes in western Oregon, and rarely any spiders. Reading about the adventures of you guys in Texas and Florida is akin to watching a horror movie for me. Can't step off the paved road, can't pick up anything laying out in the field, gotta be on full alert walking around the property. Yikes! If I lived there I would be wearing steel socks and gloves.

 

[NewfieDan]

No poisonous snakes in western Oregon, and rarely any spiders. Reading about the adventures of you guys in Texas and Florida is akin to watching a horror movie for me. Can't step off the paved road, can't pick up anything laying out in the field, gotta be on full alert walking around the property. Yikes! If I lived there I would be wearing steel socks and gloves.

We did have a Brown Recluse Dpider come in on a shipment on the last construction project I was on. I think someone stepped on that one to make sure it didn't get a foothold on the island.

 

[PBMAX]

lets see, I saw, what some round here ( blount county, bama,) call a king snake? About 6-wks ago while doing some loader work. It was about 5-ft+ long. Paused and let it move on. Looks like a black racer but the belly is he wrong color. I swear it gave me a dirty look for disturbing its nap.
Then a month ago I caught a baby ring neck about 6-in long and pencil thin. Let it go in the ivy covering the back hill. Many field rats in its future, I hope...

Wife being tired of my being the only one to catch a snake so far this year had to catch one too.

Though I still say using a warm dryer and a mouse is cheating. lol

No I am not kidding.
she comes down to the man cave last Sunday complaining about the dyer not turning on and making noise and smelling of smoke.

So not wanting to sleep on the couch... 26 + yrs together, I may be slow at times but I do learn...

I pulled it out started taking it apart. hmm, from the smell I thought it might be the heating element. Would not be the first.

Then she noticed the mouse in the bathroom (washer n dryer in vanity as you inter from the master bedroom to the bath).
So she grabs some gloves and tries to catch the mouse.
Again not kidding. 5'4 112lb of dynamite
I told her to grab a cat and close the door , we have 4, but then I am lazy...
Any way, mouse gets a way, yes it was my fault,

so we get back to the dryer.

While I look at the motor for the possible electric smell since the heating element looks ok. Then I hear a squeal from the back.
Me: What, Her: there's a snake. Me: ur kidding

No, she was not kidding

I'd say from what I could see of it coiled up around the assemble it was about 3 ft or so long and about 3/4 to 1-in thick. Again a king snake I think. I could not see much of it.

Would you believe she wanted me to sit the dryer on the porch?

Not kidding again.

This is a woman that will kill 6ft rattler with hoe and axe or pick up one she knows is not poisonous.
Was actually put-out with me for not keeping the baby ring neck for her to play with before I let it go.

She was not having a snake anywhere near where she sleeps only a rat snake or not. lol
She actually shivered at the snake curling up with her. lol

It was sleep alone or?


So the dryer went on porch and I have no idea if the poor mouse survived or not.

I have not seen the cats looking for the mouse lately, but if the do get it. They will torment the poor thing to death.
All four are male and 3 of them nut-less. So they have nothing better to do.