Rogmatt jr. loves to chase and pick up snakes. In the yard at times and in the field. I give rules to follow: If it is non-poisonous, we will release it somewhere it won't be bothered and can have a good habitat. He likes to find Black snakes, Pine snakes, Rat snakes, and king snakes. All have been released. If he finds a poisonous snake, especially near human dwellings, it most likely will meet a different fate. Rattlers can be eaten so nothing is wasted. However last year he did pick up a Cottonmouth and then released it into the creek again. Mom threatened me with divorce for allowing that to happen.

All but the black snakes DIE!

We don't have any poisonous snakes here. When I lived where there were rattlesnakes we'd kill them, bread them, and fry them like fish.

If it isn't a king snake it has to be pretty quick to get away alive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

rogmatt jr. sounds about like me 10 years ago.
but i never tried to catch anything poisonous...risk/reward ratio is a little too high.

Growing up, whenever a bunch of us kids were together, and someone would yell "SNAKE!", usually the next words were "Don't kill it, let's catch it!"
I guess I haven't grown up completely, though I've certainly gotten a LOT older... Just proves God IS watching over us! And, I've never been bitten, by a poisonous snake either. Mostly turn 'em loose after awhile, unless there's someone around that needs scarin! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
The bigger Rattlers, though, are a different story. They find their way to the table! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

As an eco-weenie I usually just give snakes in the wilds a polite greeting and then go about my business. I do appreciate the courtesy warning ratlesnakes often give, you don't get bit, they don't get pounded to a pulp, and I find a rattlesnake in full writhing/rattling display to be "way cool".

Last week while birding I came across three separate coral snakes along the trail, beautiful snakes. Deadly as all get out but you really got to work at it to get bit by one. Cottonmouths bother me the most on account of they're pugnacious and don't give a warning.

'Course, any venomous snake around human habitation ought to be quickly dispatched.

Birdwatcher

Dispatch all poisionous snakes near habitations? Um - maybe. They aren't any more dangerous than bears, and we don't treat them that way- at least I don't. Tho I admit that I was a bit twitchie the first couple years we lived here, what with 5 and 6 year olds terrorizing the yard and woods around. Had a brownie thru the yard a few minutes ago. The dogs are still twitching, but I thought it was pretty cool. Kids (same ones) are due home from college Sunday.

On the other hand, I may just hold the world record 70 lb bale toss, from when I was an 17 year old Dakota farm boy. Working on a stone-boat behind the baler, making stacks of ten. Sunk the hook in the right end, grabbed the strings with the left hand, started my heave and turn to put it on the stack behind me on the boat when I noticed about 8 inches of rattler tail hanging out the side of the bale. Nice arc. A good 30 feet - including the hook. Boss driving the tractor wanted to know "What the HELL are you doing????" There was only about 2 inches of snake (brand new, freshly dead) inside that bale, and we found nothing in the one before or after, or on the ground. Maybe a cow ate it anyway.

i saw a rattle snake on the road about 3 weeks ago, the first one I have seen in many years, maybe almost 30 years, I could have killed it but let it go, it never rattled thou. if it was in my yard, it would be dead.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/reptile/massasauga.htm

Long time ago I picked up a copperhead along with a fence post. Those things hurt when they bite <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Since then along with watching where I put my hands if a poisonious snake is in a place where I am likely to run into him again he ain't living there no more. I welcome all of the others. Got a rat snake that is a perminent guest in my barn. I'm used to him but he will make visitors fall over things when they first see him unexpected like. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

BCR

How about differently dangerous? In as much as a bear ain't likely to crawl under your back steps and inflict crippling bites on your unsuspecting people and pets.

Interesting how some folks react to snakes with a visceral dislike, something which I believe is an instinct rooted in our genes.

On the topic of great moments in sports, two of my most athletic moments lately have come courtesy of rattlesnakes. Once in tall grass the grass just in front of me started writhing and buzzing, and then the grass right next to me started writhing and buzzing too. Next thing I knew I was thirty feet further back. Same thing when I was clambering down a steep hill and an unseen rattlesnake buzzed, suddenly I was way downslope. I must've flew both times <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

I dunno what they sound like elsewhere, but Texas rattlesnakes don't rattle, they buzz. If you catch a cicada in your hand, that loud buzz it makes sounds exactly like a rattlesnake.

Birdwatcher

Elect them.

1B

I'm the rare exception around here. I live and let live with snakes UNLESS they're near my home or usual work areas, THEN if they're poisonouse they are returned to nature ahead of their normal schedule. I killed a pretty big copperhead in my driveway yesterday, my hired hand said I couldn't get him, but my aim was true and those 16 inch tires did the deed.

We don't have that many in my homes immediate area, but we have a fair population of timber rattlers on some of my places. Beautiful snakes that I leave alone if at all possible. I don't see that many of them, which is good and bad. But, if you see one, they will sure change your concentration set if you are squirrel hunting. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> They are not a play snake, make a mistake with them and it is hospital time, if you get that far.

Water moccassins are a real pain, quiet, fairly pugnacious, and common. My least favorite snake.

The rule to my kids is that "I" have to approve picking up any snake. They get a lesson in ID'ing snakes every time we see one.

We VERY rarely get rattlers around. Hell, I even stop on the driveway and move sunning snakes off so the other neighbors won't run them over.

Same rule though, if there is a nasty one near the house, it goes!

My rule with my kids is that they better not be standing in my escape route when the "s" of the word snake is first spoken. I usually runaway screaming like a girl.

Kill 'em all...Let God sort 'em out!!!!


I live in the middle of many acres of pasture and woods, if they can't stay away from our little patch they get whacked...

Mike

non -poisonous ones get a free pass, no matter where they are. If a rattler ever did show up in the yard, it'd be released back into the wild, far away from any housing. Rattlers in the wild are left alone. Alone as in I'll just gawk at them for half an hour or so.

Snakes just fascinate me. Like Muley, I too will escort snakes off of the road. I'd like to adopt my brother in laws rat snake, but my wife thinks of them as Satan incarnate, and wouldn't have it in the house.

Regards,
Scott

What do you do with snakes? Mmmmm....., let me think.
I know- elect them as US Senators from Mass. and NY!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!
To God Alone Be The Glory!

What do I do with snakes?

If its non-poisonous, I try to grab it either around the head or just behind the head before picking it up.

Like this water snake.


If its poisonous I use a forked stick behind the head before picking it up.

Like this little water mocassin.

A few years back one of my bosses told me about his trip down to Georgia for a deer hunt. One morning while climbing up into a tree stand he was met by a snake. You'd figure this guy spent enought time in the woods that a little snake wouldn't bother him. For the remainder of the trip his guide went up the tree first. Rick's biggest mistake was telling me the story <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Boy, am i glad i live and hunt in ontario, the only snake i got to worry about here is a grass, milk and hognose snake, all non-poisoness. The only poisoness snake we have is the Missasaugas rattler, and he don't live where i dwell. I sure am glad we have frost and lot's of snow when it come's hunt'n time, except turkey hunt'n, i usually try to get them early, before the slither's from HELL are out in full force. Rick.

Snakes in trees I'am told are not poisonous. I've never seen a poisonuos snake up in a tree so quess it's true.
Here in Oklahoma we have Banded water snakes. We call them yellow bellies. Alot of folks think they are a Cotton mouth. We call them city folks. Anyway these yellow bellies love to climb trees, willows along the bank. The dang things are every where.I've seen trees full of them, some of them 7 foot long. Usually when you approach they drop out of the trees and scatter. But one night two of my buddies were fishing on the Red River. We were setting bank lines for cats , in a 14 ft aluminum jon boat. We pulled into a small feeder creek, that had a large willow hanging over the water. Thud thud thud we had three very lively yellow bellies in the boat with us. My buddy Larry that was driving is deathly afraid of snakes. He freaks out hits the throttle runs the boat right up on the bank. then procedes to run over the two of us in the front of the boat on his way to what he thought was safety, out in to the thick brush along the creek. M y other buddy were getting a pretty good laugh at Larry's exspence. He was crashing thruogh the brush screeching colorful metaphors, as we evicted the snakes from the boat. When Larry suddenly went quiet we got a little worried. He starts yelling for help Rattle snakes Help!!! so we gather up a lantern and a 20 ga and go looking for him. When we found him he was frozen with fear. We could here the rattler buzzing, but could not see it. So we grab Larry and half draged him back to the boat ,where he all but made us turn the boat upsidedown to make sure we had,nt missed any snakes. Before he would get back in it . It was several days before Larry was able to see the humor in it.
Larry died 6 yrs ago the day he died I was sitting at his bed side a series of strokes had left him unable to speak or move. I told this story to his kids as I sat there and we seen Larry smile. It's still funny Buddy. I told you I talk about you for 100 yrs if I live that long.
Pat

A good " SNAKE!" story for outdoor campfires...

During the depression many farmers in central Florida
ate "wild meat" and hunted some areas to depletion. They
arranged with an owner of a large Island permission to harvest
a bountiful crop of resident bunnies in a night hunt. Their plan
was to set up on a field before full dark, then later light up half-shaded
lanterns in a circle perimeter to project light outward, and
harvest rabbits with .22 shots between their gleaming running lights.

It worked like a charm, the first volley saw eyes blink
out all around, but when they inspected the take they were
just rattlers -- huge ones. They hasd to shoot a path through
them to their boats. The Island got a bad rep as the "Devil's
Playground" among night poachers for decades.

Not many sleep well on the ground or leasve the fire unarmed to go off
into the woods after that one.

1B

LMAO. Could see it coming, too.

Birdwatcher- it is true we don't find many bears UNDER the porch. Mostly, the folks around here (the dumb ones, anyway) keep their garbage and dog food ON the porch. If the Law catches them at it more than once or so, they get a citation (the people, not the bear).

Can't speak from personal experience in either case, but I suspect being bit by a snake is nowhere near as bad as a bear bite. Probably why they don't make bear-bite kits. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

One of my coworkers last week had one (brown bear) in her door-less arctic entry- apparently it was after a leetle bit of ripe tofu in the grocery bag of garbage she set out. We laaaaauughed at her!

So, anyone know what a snake's home range is? If you find one in the yard, is he passing thru, or has he been living there all along. If the latter, how come you haven't seen him before? If the former, how long has he been there this time, how long would he stay, how many times before has he passed thru unseen, how frequently, what are your chances of ever seeing him again? Course, it IS nice and cool under those porches on a hot day, and may become a favored place to lay up.

I was discing my father-in-law's field near Hathaway Mt a couple decades back (that long???) when a Rattler went off right under the tractor. Sounded like he was in the cab with me - and I thought for a moment he was. I came down off the underside of the roof again in time to look back and see about 4 foot of snake go under the disc. Bet he'd killed a lot of vermin in his time.

Birdwatcher , There is no shame in being an eco-weenie . The older I get the more an eco-weenie I become .

Been bitten once by a copper head . Wasn't serious but had to spend a day in the hostpital for observation . Still have a scar on my leg from the doc cutting a plug of meat from the snake bite . Was told the flesh would turn black and rot if he didn't cut it out .

I've made peace with the snakes . That was not the case in my youth . Killed every one that crossed my path back then . It's nice to see them still around . Southeast Texas would not be the same without them .

I've always been an eco-weenie. Meat-eating, but I only shot prairie dogs once - it bothered me. Nor do I hunt brown bears (not very good eating), and black bears only every 4 or 5 years, when we run out of sausage (we're out).



Some of my best friends are bird watchers.

Real, dyed-in-the-wool ecologists. Hell, every once in a while, they even hit one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Back around 50+ years ago my parents and I lived in a little house way out in the boonies close to the western Ky/Tn. border. For toilet facilities during the daytime we had the infamous "one-hole" out house located about 30 yds. down a well worn path out back and a chamber pot (thunder mug) for late night nature calls.

Moms morning routine would be to empty said thunder mug in the "one-hole" and sneak a cigarette while she was in there. (Dad didn't want her smoking) One morning I was playing in the yard when all of a sudden I hear this ear splitting shriek come from the outhouse, the door flew open, and out scooted Mom, bloomers still down around her ankles, kicking up a cloud of yellow Ky. dust, all the while screaming my Dads name over and over.

Dad came flying out the back door, half awake, in his underwear and barefooted(shift worker) runs up the path to Mom and now all she can do is point at the outhouse and stammer sn- sna- snak- snake. Dad snatches up a garden hoe pulls the snake outside on the ground and promptly puts an end to it and all the excitement.

When Moms nerves calmed down some, she told us that just as she was starting to sit down, she looked over her shoulder to take "aim", low and behold there was a snake curled around the seat on the "one-hole" and that is when all the excitement started. Later on Dad said it was a Copperhead. Mom could not have cared less what type of snake it was, they were all Copperheads to her. After that, when she tended to her morning task she would carry a long stick to open the door and bang around the walls and floor before she would go in the outhouse. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> ..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.......joken2

Sounds like you folks are related to Pat McManus- the outdoor humor writer. Claims that after his sister found a garden-type snake in her underwear drawer, she richochetted off the walls 4 times before getting a clean shot at the door. She also claimed he was responsible, but "Who believes someone who goes through life poking her underwear with a stick?" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Encourage their presence, especially in the places I like to camp, hunt, and fish. They keep a lot of the casual tourists away. 1Minute