So we have a mockingbird nest right beside the garage here at the house. Momma bird laid 4 eggs. Nest is only few feet off the ground and easy to look at when coming and going. So mid day eggs were in there. This evening gone. Nest intact and undisturbed. Ok got to be a snake. Well a quick hunt around the house and there he was around back. Rat or oak snake. Didn’t kill him but caught and relocated him done the road in wooded area. Feel like he’s just doing what he’s born to do and hungry. What would you have done?

Getting rid of mocking birds doesn't bother me in the least...

Made snake and eggs for breakfast…..

There is no wrong in nature. It's the narcissistic, talking monkeys that are the problem.

Birds are nice to watch. I'm not sure what other benefit a mockingbird would offer, but I've enjoyed how they can memorize other bird calls.

Rat snakes get rid of damaging pests, mice, ground moles, ground squirrels, venomous snakes. They are fun to watch too, but rarely seen.

Whatever you chose is a good call. Most men squeal " EEEK!", kill the snake and brag to everyone like they removed a grizzly..... bear handed.
If I were your neighbor down the road, I'd offer to take all snakes off your hands.

Sir, I can’t find any fault in your logic and decision. I think not killing an animal that is doing what it was programmed to do is usually the right course of action. There are always exceptions and personal reasons for deviating from that ethos but you did good my friend.

Thanks for the comments. Yes I like looking and listening to the birds as much as anyone…..but I like snakes too. Moccasins around here ain’t so lucky though! Hate those basterds

In my "not quite yet" elderly state... I tend to live and let live....

I went so far as to pass on killing a skunk this spring.... it looked healthy... was digging grubs... minding it's own business. I thought.... "fair enough"

I’m a sappy sucker too and while I’ve LOVED hunting and fishing and wildlife for as far back as I can remember I hate the killing part…I like the eating better than killing so I must kill to hunt but I don’t have to kill to survive, there’s a difference and I know a lot of good men here understand my convoluted thoughts….

Birds shît on the cars

Make sure you can get a pellet rifle or .22 into the mother bird.

Renegade50 had a rat snake spiral climb his porch posts and eat all the hatchlings of a robin nest.

He let it eat all the babies then chopped the snake up with a shovel. 🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♂️💀☠️🏴‍☠️👺

Our mockingbirds nest in the two cypresses closest to our garage.

Carolina Wrens somehow find a way into my garage every spring ... at least they crap in one corner up near the front where one of the big doors is but they nest in the back on a shelf.

I can guarantee you that your mockingbirds either tried to tell you their nest was in danger or they raised hell at that snake long before he took those eggs. You weren't paying attention.

Either way, you did right relocating the snake.

Had mockingbirds nest in a Pine by the driveway.
They got a bit snotty, but I let it slide.
Then they got so bad my wife and kids were afraid to go outside.

Had to quiet them down.


Snakes don't bother me, much.
But, again, a no go for the ladies.
Slice and dice.

I would have done the same except maybe leave the snake where it was.

Doesn’t really matter what did it but a nest that easy to see it could have just as easily been a jay or grackle responsible.

Anyhoo... the mockingbirds will just start over in another location around the yard and try again, if songbirds couldn’t do that they would have all gone extinct a long time ago.

Speaking of snakes, and look at the piece of sheit that showed up.

snakes and eggs....

I had a lazy Buff Orpington. Sat all the time, never laid any eggs. Always acted broody.

That's a big bullsnake.

I never knew they would break and suck an egg. I figured they just ate the ones they could swallow.

He swallered a whole one. You can see the lump behind his head in the top pic. I think that one was already busted as he never ate it.

Thanks

I'd like to have a few bull snakes around this place to take care of some mice and voles. I'd prefer to not acquire rattlers, though.

I knew it was just a matter of time before they'd get tired of you at the bar and you'd stop by.
Rick needs to recruit a bunch of these to clean this place up.
Lol.

I would have killed the mockingbirds and kept the snake. If you ever had a garden or fruit trees you know. POS's will take 1 peck out of every tomato/plum or whatever else and move to the next one.

How many of those has your boyfriend packed up your ass?

This, I hate the tomatoe pecking bastards! But my bluebirds are trying to hatch their second set of eggs. They’re welcome in my garden anytime.

If he would be safe from other humans, I would have left him where I found him

Same thing! Big ass pine snake

Bull snakes, King snakes, Rat snakes - any non-venomous snake that will kill rodents and venomous snakes and scorpions are welcomed and protected on our place. (Well, maybe a very big python would have to be moved).

For the safety of others here, the venomous models get the rake or shot shell.