Help!!! Snake!!!!

[SailorBob]

Okay, I cannot figure out a way to solve this problem with a tractor but, I thought someone might have some ideas. I have a small Koi fish pond (about 350 gallon size) in my back yard. I have a water mocassin that has take up residence in it. My grandchilden were playing there the day before I found it too. Makes me shudder to think about it. I want to kill this beast but, I don't know how without damaging my pond. I can't shoot it or I would probably put a hole in the pond in ruin it and kill my fish. The pond has a black rubber liner in it. Now for the real problem.. I am deathly afraid of snakes. I can hardley bear to look at one. I know it is silly but, I just can't help it. I once found a cooperhead in our bathroom and had to get my wife to kill it (in a different house). That was so embarrassing. Scared of a little bitty snake. Phobias are hard to overcome. I don't see any way to get close enough to it to kill it without a weapon.

Any contructive suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Scardy Cat

 

[Bob_Skurka]

SNAKE AWAY is a chemical you may want to try to make it go away, but it may come back. An exterminator may by your best option.

 

[SnowRidge]

How close will your phobia let you get? A long pole with a noose on the end which can be drawn tightly closed may work.

 

[Dargo]

Gees, that would be a tough one. As Bob knows, I'm currently playing hide and seek with a copperhead on my property. He shows when I'm not armed. When I show with my extermination tools (12 gauge), he hides. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I believe he will eventually lose this game.

With the rubber liner in your koi pond, you can't use poison nor firearms nor traps. Perhaps a bb gun? If you hit him, it may not kill him, but sooner or later he will likely want to find a better place to live. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[slowrev]

Get someone else to do it, would be your best bet I suppose.

One possibility would be a tree pruner, with a lopper on the end that operates when you pull the rope. I would probably just use a sharp hoe on it after I teased it away from the plastic liner. Grew up using hoes and found them to be the best snake killing tool out there.

Ben

 

[8NTX]

I agree that a hoe is great to use on snakes. I've killed a number of copperheads with one. One time I even used a section of 2" steel pipe as a spear; I was lucky and it cleanly took off it's head. But be careful. I prefer a shotgun with mocassins. They tend to be agressive when threatened and he might come after you. Now that you are really freaked out ... hire an exterminator. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jinman]

One thing for sure. . .
If you are as afraid of snakes as you sound, this snake could cause you to hurt yourself very badly. Also, there are "tons" of harmless water snakes killed every year because people think they are water moccasins. Do you have an Animal Control department locally that could help you? How about the local fire department? Just find some group that would have to deal with animals on a regular basis and I bet they can help you.

I think the most important thing for you is that you have swallowed your pride and admitted you are phobic about snakes. It's better you do that and seek help than to give yourself a "stroke" trying to get rid of it without help.

 

[bczoom]

Bob,

I accidentally ran across one of the best snake catchers for snakes in water.
Get one of these which you can get most anywhere. Get one with the entrance holes just larger than the approx. diameter of the snake.

Throw any type of bait in it that the snake would be interested in (I'll let others advise but I use minnows). Attach a rope to it then drop/set/throw it in the pond where it is mostly submersed. The snake will find the hole to get in so it can eat the bait but they never seem to find their way back out. Once the snake has been caught, I lift by the rope and take the cage to deeper water and toss back in. Wait an hour and voila, snake is dead.

 

[GeneD14]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They tend to be agressive when threatened and he might come after you. )</font>

That would do it for me. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
At that point I would run like the 3 stooges! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DMF]

I like a hoe myself for dispatching snakes, but I have also used my .22 rifle with "rat shot" loads. The lead bullet is replaced with a plastic bullet-shaped container the has a bunch of small birdshot. I'm not sure how easy it is to find any more, but farmers used to kill rats in the barns with it. It's enough to kill but you won't leave a hole in your barn; probably wouldn't leave a hole in your rubber liner either...