I hate snakes.

[warhammer]

There is a rattlesnake den that sits several feet off of a part of my fence that I need to spend some time working on. One of the residents was sitting out today catching some sun when I passed by to look at what I need to work on.
I was lucky I saw it as it really blended in to the surroundings well. Unfortunately I did not have anything with me to dispatch the snake and I was not up for hand to hand combat with it.
I am thinking I need to make the den uninhabitable to either make the snake(s) to move on or to be deceased.
What's the best way to do that?

 

[timswi]

There is a rattlesnake den that sits several feet off of a part of my fence that I need to spend some time working on. One of the residents was sitting out today catching some sun when I passed by to look at what I need to work on.
I was lucky I saw it as it really blended in to the surroundings well. Unfortunately I did not have anything with me to dispatch the snake and I was not up for hand to hand combat with it.
I am thinking I need to make the den uninhabitable to either make the snake(s) to move on or to be deceased.
What's the best way to do that?

Gas and a flare?

 

[quackaddict]

some folks might not like this idea, but a few gallons of gas or diesel down the hole and pour off a line about 20 feet away. Then strike a match and watch the fireworks.

 

[Thomas]

Sorry,your on your own.......I am gone when it comes to snakes.

 

[wjoerob]

Now I remember why I don't live in Texas -- really, a DEN of 'em? I'd say, whatever it takes. Nukes, napalm, you name it. The gas/diesel idea seems pretty creative, and fun to watch.

 

[Bird]

For the rattlesnake roundups they have in parts of the state each year, don't they run the snakes out of their dens with some kind of pump up sprayer that sprays a fine mist of gasoline into the dens? Of course they don't light the gas and I don't know how long it would be before the den would again be habitable.

 

[Egon]

Golly, when I'm mowing and see a snake I'll stop and chase it out of the way!

 

[xrjohndeere]

Dynamite! Small tactical nuke. Good luck on the eviction, I really hate snakes too! Merry Christmas.

 

[Thomas]

Egon.
"When I'm mowing and see a snake I'll stop and chase it out of the way!"

Gotta ask than what do you do when snake decides to turn around "chase" you...yikes.

 

[jimmyj]

Boy you fellas sure hate snakes. I say catch em and take em down to EddieWalkers place. He loves snakes!

 

[Western]

I have caught 100's like this, in dens. I use a pump up sprayer as mentioned and usually gas, sometimes ammonia if there is a high fire danger. In the spring they will move out on their own and return in the fall.

If their body temp is good "warm" they can have a tendency to "bust outta there pretty quick, so wear boots and be calm, they just want out and aren't looking for a victim if you stay still, I once had a rattler pushing 6' bust out of a hole on the Brazos river , right between my feet , I turned around because that's where my buddy had been standing, he was plumb down to the river!! I got $125 for that snake...

I have ran out bobcats,skunks,foxes and allot of rats too so get ready to "get the mail".

Or, if it's a small hole, rock up the front and poor a bag or 2 of cement over the rocks. Odds are their is another entrance, you can find that by building a smokey fire in the hole and watch for the smoke around the area.

A good beverage of your choice afterwords is a good "nerve" calmer...

 

[Egon]

snake decides to turn around "chase" you...yikes.

Golly, they have never done that. But if they do I'll lead them out of the way and get back on the tractor!

Information site on our snakes.
NS Museum of Natural History - Nature of Nova Scotia - Animals - Snakes

Last summer we had several Biology students out looking for snakes.

 

[warhammer]

In early spring of this year I saw two rattlers come out of this same spot, when I was working on the fence, so yeah I'd say its a den of them.

I am reluctant to pour gas into the ground.

The hole they are living in looks like it is an old wild hog burrow. I wonder if just really opening it up with the FEL would encourage the snakes to move on.

Now I remember why I don't live in Texas -- really, a DEN of 'em? I'd say, whatever it takes. Nukes, napalm, you name it. The gas/diesel idea seems pretty creative, and fun to watch.

 

[dave1949]

Sorry,your on your own.......I am gone when it comes to snakes.

Just don't get in my way Old Man

I can't say snakes don't give me the willies, but our snakes here are harmless. Like Egon, I try to keep them alive.

Thomas, I hear the Easten Timber Rattlesnakes are moving back into New England They've been spotted in NY and Vermont. NH is next.

Dave.

 

[SPIKER]

Just don't get in my way Old Man

I can't say snakes don't give me the willies, but our snakes here are harmless. Like Egon, I try to keep them alive.

Thomas, I hear the Easten Timber Rattlesnakes are moving back into New England They've been spotted in NY and Vermont. NH is next.

Dave.

Like there, most of our snakes here are not dangerous either, last summer I ran over a matting ball of Corn Snakes, (I felt bad and not sure HOW I missed seeing them.) I usually will erge/move them out of the way when I'm mowing if I see them first. I have run over more than my share of moles, (in fact I aim for them suckers as ya can hardly walk the yard from so many of the runs holes & all.) that is why I like the snakes, they even out the critter population...

I have 2 big ole fat gardener snakes that keep the garden free of mice & grasshoppers. I almost ran one over this year with the mower, the same day I got the corn snakes. She had a toad & fixing to swallow it. I gave her wide birth and came back picked her up & moved her 5~6' back into the garden. she had a toad that must have been near size of the palm of my hand & could barely wiggle after getting it down... She has a nest under a hunk O garage door panel that I usually set the 3pt tiller on to keep it out of the dirt. I went looking about 2 hrs after I moved her and was packing it up for the day and she had made it most of the way back there and was setting in the high grass under one of the trees catching the west sun..

The corn snakes were very pretty (except for fact they went through the mower.) the largest (female) must have been 40" long & 1.5" thick...

Mark

 

[Thomas]

Dave
"Just don't get in my way Old Man "

I figure snake can only get one of us,sooo I plan on tripping you tadpole.
.....................................................................................................

Thomas, I hear the Easten Timber Rattlesnakes are moving back into New England They've been spotted in NY and Vermont. NH is next.

Snakes like warm and taking it easy,now whats that motto on your lic.plate..beside you grow/have more timber NH grows grantie.

 

[dave1949]

Dave
"Just don't get in my way Old Man "

I figure snake can only get one of us,sooo I plan on tripping you tadpole.
.....................................................................................................

Thomas, I hear the Easten Timber Rattlesnakes are moving back into New England They've been spotted in NY and Vermont. NH is next.

Snakes like warm and taking it easy,now whats that motto on your lic.plate..beside you grow/have more timber NH grows grantie.

Just checking to see if you are awake waiting for Santa

The rattle snake thing is not a joke. There are a couple known small populations in NY and VT. Nobody is telling where they are else folks like us would go get rid of them before they get to be a problem.
Dave.

 

[merlintractor]

Gotta ask than what do you do when snake decides to turn around "chase" you...yikes.[/QUOTE]

When you live around cottonmouth moccasins, you know learn quickly what to do when a snake chases you...run!!!!

 

[NuBota]

Only viper in our area is the copperhead. I have come across many garter and black snakes, but have not ran across a copperhead yet - although all my neighbors have

I have a Black snake nest with 3 under my front porch and another under a retaining wall by the garage. See them every spring and fall and have decided to leave them alone. I have not had a mouse in the house or the garage since they set up home - and have, as I said, never seen a copperhead. I have heard that the black snakes will eat copperheads, but took it with a grain of salt until I saw these photos....

 

[wroughtn_harv]

If you don't like the idea of gas or diesel you might consider some acetylene. It's heavier than air, will sink to the lowest point available, and can produce a nice tremor when lit. Back in the day in So Cal cable splicers carried acetylene torches for working lead closures. We moved ant hills often. Once a rookie left the gas on too long and when he set it off it broke a sidewalk.

My grandfather had a snake thing a lot like Eddie's snake thing. But according to family he could find rattle snakes when no one else could. He used the hides for belts, hat bands, wallets, and purses. Tourists loved them.