Well, maybe more like I was startled. About dusk I went out to fill the birdbath and grabbed the hose laying on the ground (one of those black collapsible ones) and it slithered out of my hand. Damn rat/chicken snake.

I don’t mind snakes but I’m not overly fond of handling them.

On a positive note, I haven’t seen any poisonous snakes in quite a few years. The first couple of years after we had the house built I was killing 5-10 baby copperheads a year but never saw an adult. After I got some chickens the mice appeared, then the rat snakes, and haven’t seen a copperhead since.

If you pick one up and it's an Alabama black snake, put it down!

A rather good snake to have around. Does keep the copperhead population in check...

If I had a place with copperheads and/or rattlesnakes, I would build several brush piles on the property and buy some black snakes to release.

http://www.backwaterreptiles.c...-snake-for-sale.html

http://www.backwaterreptiles.c...-snake-for-sale.html

FLASHLIGHT!!!!

I woulda sharted. Snakes are some sneaky bastards

Come on...tell the truth. You squealed like a little girl didn't you?

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
You squealed like a little girl didn't you?

I did just reading the OP's post!

That's shrink your sphincter.

the birds called, they say thanks for the water

I just moved a tarp today. Gardner snake startled me. It was the thickest one I ever saw.

I found my first snake of the year by accident yesterday...I was digging out some wild violets and grabbed a ringneck with my pull. I'll admit it startled me. It looked at me like "who are you and why are you holding me "

Creepy.

I just missed grabbing a baby copperhead doing some yard work a couple of weeks back. Thankfully a shovel was close by and took care of that problem. Scared the hell out of me though!

quote:

Originally posted by bryanZ06:
I just missed grabbing a baby copperhead doing some yard work a couple of weeks back. Thankfully a shovel was close by and took care of that problem. Scared the hell out of me though!

Did you wait until it finished doing the yard work?

Well, my little buddy was back tonight. I don’t know if it’s a male looking for a hole in that black hose or a female impressed with the length but it seems infatuated with that hose. I did make sure I got hold of the hose and not my little friend tonight.

I'd get a different color hose.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Originally posted by bryanZ06:
I just missed grabbing a baby copperhead doing some yard work a couple of weeks back. Thankfully a shovel was close by and took care of that problem. Scared the hell out of me though!

Did you wait until it finished doing the yard work?

I just decided to rid the world of that evil little thing right then and there!

Start at the hydrant and work you way out to the end of the hose.

quote:

Originally posted by olfuzzy:
On a positive note, I haven’t seen any poisonous snakes in quite a few years. The first couple of years after we had the house built I was killing 5-10 baby copperheads a year but never saw an adult. After I got some chickens the mice appeared, then the rat snakes, and haven’t seen a copperhead since.

This is the long-term key. Remove the snake's food source, and they won't come around.