Snake season

I saw a Copperhead on my front porch yesterday. It looked like it was sleeping due to the scale that covers its eyes to keep it moisturized. So I believed it was there because of the suns rays earlier. I had went to check the mail box and I wasn't shoes and I almost about stepped it when I saw that pattern. Me, personally I choose not to kill snakes. Where I'm from we revere snakes as healers, a sign of good luck, and creatures that deal with pests like rabbits and rats. So I took my shovel and scooped it up into a bucket and it took out the woods and released it so it can find it's way home and not find me a way to the hospital. How do you guys deal with snakes? Do you kill them, let them be, or anything else?

Posted by GreyRobe
It is also believed that killing snake destroys good fortune for your family and cuts off prosperity. This may sound illogical but it makes sense on a karmic level. dumb people out of fear will kill a snake for no reason. these people will never be spared and will go through living hell.

Lay off the peyote.

Join the real world.

Posted by DarkFire
I would never kill a snake or spider even. People don't realize how many diseased critters snakes eat, and how many parasitic bugs spiders eat like misquotes. When (females) see them and beg me to kill them I always pick them up and release them somewhere else. I love the reaction I get when people see me pick up a spider by its Web and carry it off. If the spider has an impressive Web in an area like the garage I always let them stay. Snakes are more the welcome around the outside of my house also.

I don't even like killing spiders since they take care of pests. and keep other insects away from my tomatoes. But if they're in my house I want refrain my killing them as well. I'd rather scoop em up and put em outside.

If it's a venomous snake -- it's dead if it crosses my path.

Sorry, snake lovers.

Posted by M
Or to put it differently, you'd rather go out of your way to kill when it's less effort not to?
Not speaking in context of it being a liability to let it live (to family/pets).

It's really not much effort to squeeze the trigger on my shotgun.

And yes, I have two young sons, and pets.

I live on 4 acres, partially wooded, and a 1 acre pond/lake.

Ever been head up with a cottonmouth? They don't slither away quietly. Mean SOB's.

I also eradicate coyotes at every opportunity.

Rabbits are pests. Along with most other rodents and the cats are pretty much pests as well.

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by M
Or to put it differently, you'd rather go out of your way to kill when it's less effort not to?
Not speaking in context of it being a liability to let it live (to family/pets).

It's really not much effort to squeeze the trigger on my shotgun.

And yes, I have two young sons, and pets.

I live on 4 acres, partially wooded, and a 1 acre pond/lake.

Ever been head up with a cottonmouth? They don't slither away quietly. Mean SOB's.

I also eradicate coyotes at every opportunity.

click to expand

Oh yeah, I've dealt with a few cottonmouths, they're common out here with Copperheads. But more so towards wetlands. They're some mean SOB's, but I didn't kill them, I just moved em elsewhere away from my home.

They love my lake. *shivers*

You are a good guy for keeping them alive I suppose.

I ain't getting close enough for a capture and relocation....LOL.

Bam. Relocated to hell. 😉

Posted by cowpuncher
I just encourage black snakes... that's what we call them here, but I suppose properly they are "Black rat snakes"

They aren't poisonous, kill a lot of rodent pests like rats and mice, but most importantly - They are mortal enemies to the vipers we have in this area... namely copperheads and timber rattlers.

A black snake will kill any copperhead or timber rattler it can catch, and they actively hunt them... (and eat them). Because of this, the copperheads and rattlers are terrified of them, and will stay FAR away if you have a black snake hanging around.

My family has been on a few acres in the country here for 4 decades now, and we've never seen a copperhead actually on the property, and only ever seen 2 who were anywhere near the property. I think we can thank the black snakes for that. We always seem to have at least one hanging around every year, and we just leave it alone and give it respect. 🙂

Ahh Black Snakes. They're nice to keep around. I've seen a few, but most were dead. The ones I've actually touched with my hand were usually your typical garden and grass snakes. Black snakes constrict Copperheads and Timber's if I remember correctly. All these talks about snakes makes me wanna buy a Burmese Python to keep pests out. But knowing the people around me, they'd never appreciate it.

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by cowpuncher
I just encourage black snakes... that's what we call them here, but I suppose properly they are "Black rat snakes"

They aren't poisonous, kill a lot of rodent pests like rats and mice, but most importantly - They are mortal enemies to the vipers we have in this area... namely copperheads and timber rattlers.

A black snake will kill any copperhead or timber rattler it can catch, and they actively hunt them... (and eat them). Because of this, the copperheads and rattlers are terrified of them, and will stay FAR away if you have a black snake hanging around.

My family has been on a few acres in the country here for 4 decades now, and we've never seen a copperhead actually on the property, and only ever seen 2 who were anywhere near the property. I think we can thank the black snakes for that. We always seem to have at least one hanging around every year, and we just leave it alone and give it respect. 🙂

Ahh Black Snakes. They're nice to keep around. I've seen a few, but most were dead. The ones I've actually touched with my hand were usually your typical garden and grass snakes. Black snakes constrict Copperheads and Timber's if I remember correctly. All these talks about snakes makes me wanna buy a Burmese Python to keep pests out. But knowing the people around me, they'd never appreciate it.

click to expand

I think the Burmese Python is a problem, am I correct on that?

Isn't that the giant species of python that is destroying the Florida Everglades?

Posted by DarkFire

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by M
Or to put it differently, you'd rather go out of your way to kill when it's less effort not to?
Not speaking in context of it being a liability to let it live (to family/pets).

It's really not much effort to squeeze the trigger on my shotgun.

And yes, I have two young sons, and pets.

I live on 4 acres, partially wooded, and a 1 acre pond/lake.

Ever been head up with a cottonmouth? They don't slither away quietly. Mean SOB's.

I also eradicate coyotes at every opportunity.

There is a huge difference between a copperhead and cottonmoth, though they both are apart of the viper family. Coppers are more passive, and if they don't quickly it's because their trying not to move to not be seen. It makes it look like it's holding it's ground, which 9/10 it's not. Cottonmouth on the other hand are way more aggressive, and stand their ground expecting to scare you away. No snake wants to waist hard to make venom unless it's for food or defense. I guess people in places like India have it way worse. They have king cobras that are 10 times more aggressive then a cottonmouth, stand 7 feet tall, and.have enough venom in one pin drop to kill 10 full grown men. I guess the kind cobra can at least kill tigers, which typically hunt humans as a main food source.

click to expand

Agree, huge difference between the two.

I will still kill a Copperhead too, though. Luckily I don't see many.

They blend in with leaves really well, and they will bite if stepped on -- I have a lot of leaves, so I have to get rid of them.

Very rare though. Like 2 in 5 years.

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by cowpuncher
I just encourage black snakes... that's what we call them here, but I suppose properly they are "Black rat snakes"

They aren't poisonous, kill a lot of rodent pests like rats and mice, but most importantly - They are mortal enemies to the vipers we have in this area... namely copperheads and timber rattlers.

A black snake will kill any copperhead or timber rattler it can catch, and they actively hunt them... (and eat them). Because of this, the copperheads and rattlers are terrified of them, and will stay FAR away if you have a black snake hanging around.

My family has been on a few acres in the country here for 4 decades now, and we've never seen a copperhead actually on the property, and only ever seen 2 who were anywhere near the property. I think we can thank the black snakes for that. We always seem to have at least one hanging around every year, and we just leave it alone and give it respect. 🙂

Ahh Black Snakes. They're nice to keep around. I've seen a few, but most were dead. The ones I've actually touched with my hand were usually your typical garden and grass snakes. Black snakes constrict Copperheads and Timber's if I remember correctly. All these talks about snakes makes me wanna buy a Burmese Python to keep pests out. But knowing the people around me, they'd never appreciate it.

I think the Burmese Python is a problem, am I correct on that?

Isn't that the giant species of python that is destroying the Florida Everglades?

click to expand

Yeah down in the Everglades. Up here they'renot even around. But I have seen a few Alligators near the coast. But a Burmese Python here would serve a purpose to get rid of the pests that get in my garden. And take of them damn cats that keep digging out my neighbors flowers.

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by cowpuncher
I just encourage black snakes... that's what we call them here, but I suppose properly they are "Black rat snakes"

They aren't poisonous, kill a lot of rodent pests like rats and mice, but most importantly - They are mortal enemies to the vipers we have in this area... namely copperheads and timber rattlers.

A black snake will kill any copperhead or timber rattler it can catch, and they actively hunt them... (and eat them). Because of this, the copperheads and rattlers are terrified of them, and will stay FAR away if you have a black snake hanging around.

My family has been on a few acres in the country here for 4 decades now, and we've never seen a copperhead actually on the property, and only ever seen 2 who were anywhere near the property. I think we can thank the black snakes for that. We always seem to have at least one hanging around every year, and we just leave it alone and give it respect. 🙂

Ahh Black Snakes. They're nice to keep around. I've seen a few, but most were dead. The ones I've actually touched with my hand were usually your typical garden and grass snakes. Black snakes constrict Copperheads and Timber's if I remember correctly. All these talks about snakes makes me wanna buy a Burmese Python to keep pests out. But knowing the people around me, they'd never appreciate it.

I think the Burmese Python is a problem, am I correct on that?

Isn't that the giant species of python that is destroying the Florida Everglades?

Yeah down in the Everglades. Up here they'renot even around. But I have seen a few Alligators near the coast. But a Burmese Python here would serve a purpose to get rid of the pests that get in my garden. And take of them damn cats that keep digging out my neighbors flowers.

click to expand

Pretty sure you shouldn't turn it loose.

They are predators and will eat family pets and even children. It's happen quite a bit in Florida.

Probably a bad idea Sniper.

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by CapTenn

Posted by Sn1p3r187

Posted by cowpuncher
I just encourage black snakes... that's what we call them here, but I suppose properly they are "Black rat snakes"

They aren't poisonous, kill a lot of rodent pests like rats and mice, but most importantly - They are mortal enemies to the vipers we have in this area... namely copperheads and timber rattlers.

A black snake will kill any copperhead or timber rattler it can catch, and they actively hunt them... (and eat them). Because of this, the copperheads and rattlers are terrified of them, and will stay FAR away if you have a black snake hanging around.

My family has been on a few acres in the country here for 4 decades now, and we've never seen a copperhead actually on the property, and only ever seen 2 who were anywhere near the property. I think we can thank the black snakes for that. We always seem to have at least one hanging around every year, and we just leave it alone and give it respect. 🙂

Ahh Black Snakes. They're nice to keep around. I've seen a few, but most were dead. The ones I've actually touched with my hand were usually your typical garden and grass snakes. Black snakes constrict Copperheads and Timber's if I remember correctly. All these talks about snakes makes me wanna buy a Burmese Python to keep pests out. But knowing the people around me, they'd never appreciate it.

I think the Burmese Python is a problem, am I correct on that?

Isn't that the giant species of python that is destroying the Florida Everglades?

Yeah down in the Everglades. Up here they'renot even around. But I have seen a few Alligators near the coast. But a Burmese Python here would serve a purpose to get rid of the pests that get in my garden. And take of them damn cats that keep digging out my neighbors flowers.

Pretty sure you shouldn't turn it loose.

They are predators and will eat family pets and even children. It's happen quite a bit in Florida.

Probably a bad idea Sniper.

click to expand

Yeah it is

But If I ever did get a Burmese python, I'd just keep it indoors in a terrarium. But have you seen any Alligators in Tennessee? I've been there once on a trip with my friends. I visited Memphis, it was pretty nice being there. Fresh air and good people mostly. The environment in Tennessee was pretty similar if not the same to North Carolina.

I've never seen any Gators personally, but have heard rumors of sightings.

I'm not sure how true they were. I'm skeptical, although I suppose with the Mississippi River running through Memphis -- it's entirely possible.

I actually live right outside of Memphis. Glad you enjoyed your visit.

Ever been to North Carolina CapTenn?

Posted by Sn1p3r187
Ever been to North Carolina CapTenn?

Only right over the border, in the Appalachians. I go to East Tennessee quite often. Good Ole Rocky Top!


I'd like to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, and visit Ashville, The Biltmore, etc.

I never go to Asheville these days. I only pass through asheville whenever I go hunting out in appalachians. The Appalachians are good place to be. Some of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen.