Snake Farm...

[Rayster]

So I have been finding these little guys everywhere, and it's head was not triangular enough for me to think it was a viper. So I left it be, weeks later I find the (second pic) a fellow resting on a ledge. So I take a photo and catch it. Again no yellow tip of tail and no triangular head. So I have a buddy that works at the Springfield Zoo. He tells me it's a rat snake, and asks how many I have seen. I tell him "a lot", and he proceeds to tell me mama will be 4-6 feet and black. Not venomous but can be scary. So I figure the nest is somewhere close.



I let 'em go, because I don't care to have cats and this is the ultimate mouser. So I'm wondering how your snake population fares?

Remember that song by Ray Wylie Hubbard...

 

[J F]

Count me out...I'm part of the population that has an unfounded (or founded) fear of snakes....if I see one around me, it's a gonner (so far). That's been 8-10 times in my life (46), but yeah, not a snake lover.

 

[fordmantpw]

I'm with J F! Keep them darn things away from me!

 

[Western]

Thats a good snake to have around! I have had many snakes over the years and their is a reason they call them "Rat snakes":thumbsup: generally a fair natured snake too, but will rattle it's tail if startled and give the false impression of a rattler to a "novice". I'm betting "mama" is long gone by now.


1st Photo looks more like the Midland Mudsnake

 

[powerpace]

I leave them alone but the chickens give 'em heck. The Ratlesnakes is a different story. There out-a-here!!

 

[Gunny]

Yep, Rat snake and a full size one can scare the bejasus out of you if just walk up on it! 99% of the time they'll be trying their best to get as far away from you as you are getting away from them, but when they're cornered and don't have anyplace to go, they can look pretty impressive to the faint hearted. (I'm one of them, I admit)
But in the long run, I'd rather have them than have mice and rats all over the place, at least the snakes aren't destructive.

I don't care where they go or what they do while they're down on the farm, but the wife goes nut when she sees any snake in the yard, so I've been using some stuff from Woodstream that seems to do a pretty good job at keeping them away from the house and yard. I say it does a pretty good job because since I've been using it, I haven't seen any snakes in our yard, but I have seen quite a few in the yard next door, which I own and mow. Even if it didn't work, the wife thinks it does and that's the end result that counts. I usually buy 8 pounds every year when I find it on sale and that's more than enough for my yard.

 

[jimmyj]

We only really get garter snakes here. I don't see many but wish we had more. I like snakes being around. (BUT, we don't have any venemous snakes here)

 

[MotorSeven]

Beautiful snakes...Rat and Corn. Good to keep them around to destroy ALL MICE........ALL MICE MUST DIE:laughing:

 

[kevin37b]

Idon't mind a snake as long as he introduces himself before I come across it .

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

Idon't mind a snake as long as he introduces himself before I come across it .

I agree about the letting you know they are around....to bad they do not wear a bell or something?? More of them might live longer!

 

[brin]

One time my wife and I were down at our farm fishing in the pond from the bank and she said look across the pond , are those turtle heads or snake heads in the water ? I looked and clear on the other side of the pond were two heads sticking up but they were leaving a wake and were headed toward us...I did not have my rifle or pistol with me...and here they come....they kept coming...I told my wife to reel in her fishing line as I did mine and we got out of there when they were about 20 feet from the bank and never looked back....For a long time I always took my Ruger Mark II 22 down there or my shotgun....So anyone have any idea what kind of snakes those would be that would be that bold to attack us....This Georgia pond in the summer...????? I hate snakes ...all kinds...

 

[J F]

They were just coming over to so say "hi" Bob, and shoot the breeze with ya.

 

[fordmantpw]

One time my wife and I were down at our farm fishing in the pond from the bank and she said look across the pond , are those turtle heads or snake heads in the water ? I looked and clear on the other side of the pond were two heads sticking up but they were leaving a wake and were headed toward us...I did not have my rifle or pistol with me...and here they come....they kept coming...I told my wife to reel in her fishing line as I did mine and we got out of there when they were about 20 feet from the bank and never looked back....For a long time I always took my Ruger Mark II 22 down there or my shotgun....So anyone have any idea what kind of snakes those would be that would be that bold to attack us....This Georgia pond in the summer...????? I hate snakes ...all kinds...

I doubt they were going to attack you. They likely didn't even know you were there, or felt you didn't pose a threat. Most snakes will retreat unless you are threatening them, though I have heard that water moccasins (cottonmouths) will stand their ground. It's possible you could have been near their nest and they were coming to defend it.

 

[daveshoot]

Sunday I found this little guy in the valve box... solenoids are not wired up yet, so I've been turning them on by hand.



Gotta get those valves wired up! This was a gopher snake (we have lots of gophers, and gopher snakes) but they have really unfortunate markings. I want them around but this is also rattler country, so a second look is always a good idea before opening fire.

In this case, nothing a simple change of underwear couldn't fix.

 

[kinglake]

One time my wife and I were down at our farm fishing in the pond from the bank and she said look across the pond , are those turtle heads or snake heads in the water ? I looked and clear on the other side of the pond were two heads sticking up but they were leaving a wake and were headed toward us...I did not have my rifle or pistol with me...and here they come....they kept coming...I told my wife to reel in her fishing line as I did mine and we got out of there when they were about 20 feet from the bank and never looked back....For a long time I always took my Ruger Mark II 22 down there or my shotgun....So anyone have any idea what kind of snakes those would be that would be that bold to attack us....This Georgia pond in the summer...????? I hate snakes ...all kinds...

Most likely just a water snake and harmless. We have them everywhere and it is not uncommon for them to get in the boat while fishing. It is easy to tell the difference between a harmless water snake and a cottonmouth even from a distance if they are in the water. Cottonmouths almost float on top of the water. You can see their entire body while swimming. Water snakes do the head out of the water with the rest slightly below the water surface.

 

[J F]

We have them everywhere and it is not uncommon for them to get in the boat while fishing.

This is going to give me nightmares, I just know it. :laughing:

 

[brin]

Most likely just a water snake and harmless. We have them everywhere and it is not uncommon for them to get in the boat while fishing. It is easy to tell the difference between a harmless water snake and a cottonmouth even from a distance if they are in the water. Cottonmouths almost float on top of the water. You can see their entire body while swimming. Water snakes do the head out of the water with the rest slightly below the water surface.

OK now that you mentioned that these snakes had their whole bodies wiggling on top of the water coming straight at us...the lake is about 400 ft. across and we stood our ground until they were 20 ft. away or so...there whole bodies, and they were good size 3 ft. or more , was wiggling on top of the water as they got closer we could see that...when they were far away it looked like just their heads .

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Georgia sounds like moccasins.

 

[jerrybob]

OK now that you mentioned that these snakes had their whole bodies wiggling on top of the water coming straight at us...the lake is about 400 ft. across and we stood our ground until they were 20 ft. away or so...there whole bodies, and they were good size 3 ft. or more , was wiggling on top of the water as they got closer we could see that...when they were far away it looked like just their heads .

Bob....quit wearing that "Rat" costume down to the lake.......you're ticking off the snakes!:laughing:

 

[brin]

Bob....quit wearing that "Rat" costume down to the lake.......you're ticking off the snakes!:laughing:

Oh sorry...OK...I will do that ...I was busy getting a lot of hugs at your hug site you posted...Hey, Jerrybob...that site has some real Foxy Huggers...don't tell my Mrs....Oh , and does your Mrs. know you go there...? :confused3::laughing: