Snake Loves Box Blade !

[Haoleguy]

Yesterday, late in the day, I went around and sprayed the yellowjackets in all the nooks and crannies of my outdoor equipment. Well while spraying the boxed scarifer bar of the Gannon box blade I thought I saw a shadow in the corner of my eye as I moved from right to left spraying the holes...favorite yellowjacket spot. Well when I moved back left to right a beeeg black snake came out the end of the bar. I was totally shocked to see it but it confirmed the shadow I saw earlier. I love snakes and hate to piss them off. He slithered out and away and I measured him at ~6 ft. I think this is a rat snake if I remember correctly. I have had birds and mice in my equipment but never a snake.........Cheers, Gary

 

[Marveltone]

Snakes can be very beneficial and I love them, but a surprise meeting like that would make me jump too. Glad you let the critter go. We love all the critters that eat the little pests around here.

Joe

 

[BoFuller]

Good job. I wish I had more of that kind and less rattlers though.

 

[creekbend]

When I'm in the field, I try to make as much noise as possible for the situation. Most snakes crawl away, unless they are surprised or startled. I ususlly see a couple of Copperheads and one or two Cotton Mouths yearly.

 

[bucktaker]

ok I know black snakes are beneficial/harmless but all snakes give me a scare....walked out on the rear upper deck of the lake house to find a 5 ft black snake, I yelled for help and by the time the wife got her camera and took a picture it was going off the deck (12ft in the air) I gave it a little assistance and it fell the rest of the way then slithered off......



What can I do to keep them away from my home?

 

[Gunny]

There are some snake repellants on the market, the woodstream snakeaway seems to be the most popular. From my limited use, it seems like they work fairly well. I spread it around our perimeter fence twice a year and I haven't seen any snakes in our yard, but when I've mowed the yard right next door, I have run across a few, so while I can't completely endorse the stuff, it does seem like it works.

 

[TripleR]

We leave the snakes alone on our property as well unless it is a rattler in the yard as we always have kids of all ages from toddlers to the teens. We don't see them as often as you would think and my sons, having had pet reptiles are always on the lookout for a different species. I once saw a beautiful King Snake, I sure wish I had my camera as I have only seen one in twenty years we have lived here.

Several years ago, my wife took my mother in law on a ride on our ATV to see the work we had done on the property and a snake crawled out from the front of the tank area and across my wife's arm before she could shut it down. They probably moved quicker thank bucktaker and abandoned the ATV. They walked home and one of my sons had to go up and ride it home; wish I could of filmed that.:laughing:

I have nothing against snakes, but prefer my meetings with them not be a surprise.

 

[BoFuller]

When we lived in southern CA we had a couple Kings in a terrarium. I had them a couple years and they had eggs twice but I cod never get them to hatch do we eventually let them go. I wish I had them up at the Ranch!

 

[Haoleguy]

When we lived in southern CA we had a couple Kings in a terrarium. I had them a couple years and they had eggs twice but I cod never get them to hatch do we eventually let them go. I wish I had them up at the Ranch!

Yep. Love those king snakes. I was Cali kid and that's when I fell in love with snakes and lizards. The gopher and bull snakes were a bit more aggressive when disturbed or pursued. Experienced many a rattler when going to school in San Diego when the population was much smaller, SD that is. As a kid my dad taught me to take a big stride over logs/rocks when hiking just in case there was a rattle snake in the shade underneath. Snakes out in the east are so different and I have not seen many lizards out here. One snake that I think is absolutely gorgeous is the ringnecked snake .... DEEP: Northern Ringneck Snake . Found one under brush I was moving with the tractor. Got down and moved it off to a rock wall where it was safe......Gary

 

[Pine Strip]

 

[Haoleguy]

It's Back or It's a New Snake !

While retrieving tools from my tool box I noticed the black snake again. This is probably 30 ft from my box blade. He moved very little over a 3 hr period. Probably just soaking in the sun warmth on a cool day. Also, it looks like he is getting ready to shed a skin......Cheers, Gary

 

[SPIKER]

Looking at his eyes it does appear he is getting ready to shed his skin. He won't move much just probably looking for something to help him pull it off on. he will take care of a few rodents a month given half a chance.!

Mark

 

[DKCDKC]

Since I grew up on a farm, I have always had an acceptance for snakes. We have almost never seen poisonous varieties here, but they can startle you. My wife, however, is panicked by them. Our dogs and cats seem to keep them away from the house most of the time, and the lawnmower takes care of any that stray close.

 

[LindenBruce]

Yep, rattelers get blasted here. All others are welcome. Here is one I got last week about 20' from the back of the house. First one of this season. B.

 

[Haoleguy]

Got to give that cat a decadent treat.....and your spouse did something mine would never do. My hats off to her!

Just this past week one of the rare copperheads in our region bit a young girl while hiking....... It takes more than a snake to spoil her night - theday.com Mobile Edition . I knew they're in our region just have not heard of actual sightings in the past 30 yrs.........Gary

 

[Don87]

Got to give that cat a decadent treat.....and your spouse did something mine would never do. My hats off to her!

Just this past week one of the rare copperheads in our region bit a young girl while hiking....... It takes more than a snake to spoil her night - theday.com Mobile Edition . I knew they're in our region just have not heard of actual sightings in the past 30 yrs.........Gary

Weird part about the story is that Copperheads like the '100 to 700' foot elevation.

I Think the memorandum to the copperheads in my area may not have been delivered:shocked:

 

[Haoleguy]

Weird part about the story is that Copperheads like the '100 to 700' foot elevation.

I Think the memorandum to the copperheads in my area may not have been delivered:shocked:

Maybe it's the tropical storms and hurricanes that send them to higher ground!