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04/20/11, 12:34 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Missouri
Posts: 377
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Lots more snakes this year?
I want some input from you more experienced homesteaders.
We purchased our property in December 2009, so this will only be our second summer here. Last year (our first summer) we saw a grand total of ONE snake and it was far away from the house behind the barn out in pasture.
Just TODAY we have seen 3 snakes and all three have been copperheads. The first one was about 6 feet long and was out in the middle of our pasture. The second one was in the pasture right off the house. It was about 3 feet long and DH only noticed it when he went to investigate what our 2yo DS was looking at.  The third one was a little bitty baby, but it was INSIDE my house in the laundry room.
We live in an earth berm home and I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but we certainly didn't have this problem last year. We're in Missouri.
I feel like I'm about to have a panic attack right now. The thought of our 6yo DS, 4yo DD, and 2yo DS playing outside (or inside!) with snakes all around just makes my toes curl.
Please give me some encouragement here so I don't go crazy.
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04/20/11, 05:03 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SW Missouri/Eastern Kansas
Posts: 116
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We have also seen more snakes this year. I was hoping it was a fluke...
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04/20/11, 05:12 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: chattanooga
Posts: 285
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oh i saw a lot of snakes in TN
is this a copperhead?
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04/20/11, 05:31 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: KY South Central
Posts: 3,512
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One of my co workers said she was at the park and the police were over there shooting cooperheads because they are so bad this year.
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04/20/11, 05:56 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: West Central Texas
Posts: 5,078
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Sorry you are going through that -- rattlesnakes are a problem around here. Guinea fowl and cats will help keep snakes away. Guineas can be rather noisy, but worth the trade off for their critter control.
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04/20/11, 07:34 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ocean County, NJ
Posts: 325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Windgefluester
oh i saw a lot of snakes in TN
is this a copperhead?
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I believe that's a Nerodia sipedon (northern water snake). Head is too oval to be Agkistrodon, pattern looks like a Nerodia, and the presence of water in the shot seems to give it away.  I don't know you, though, so if you are well versed in snakes and were just being facetious,  .
For the OP, I never saw a snake outside my home in the 5 years I've been here. This year, I found a dead baby garter snake in the garden. Now, garter snakes do eat earthworms, and I have been improving the soil around the house. There are many more earthworms now than there were. So, I'm guessing they like the feast, and the poor baby didn't survive the winter.
Hope you can find a solution.
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04/20/11, 07:57 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,215
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We've lived here for 2 years and I never saw a snake. The first time I mowed this year I saw a huge snake crawling through my compost pile. Since I couldn't mow it, I've offered all of the local children $100 to find the snake and kill it. Yes, I know they're beneficial and I should want them to be in my garden, but I just don't like them to be so brazen!
__________________
I refuse to believe corporations are people until Texas executes one.
I also believe that workers need Unions as much as gun owners need the NRA.
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04/20/11, 09:00 AM
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I am a Christian American
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,960
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__________________
Trish
 Seriously, I am COMPLETELY dressed!
Just keep moving...just keep moving!  
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04/20/11, 09:15 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whiskey Flats(Ft. Worth) , Tx
Posts: 8,749
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMrs
I want some input from you more experienced homesteaders.
We purchased our property in December 2009, so this will only be our second summer here. Last year (our first summer) we saw a grand total of ONE snake and it was far away from the house behind the barn out in pasture.
Just TODAY we have seen 3 snakes and all three have been copperheads. The first one was about 6 feet long and was out in the middle of our pasture. The second one was in the pasture right off the house. It was about 3 feet long and DH only noticed it when he went to investigate what our 2yo DS was looking at. The third one was a little bitty baby, but it was INSIDE my house in the laundry room.
We live in an earth berm home and I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but we certainly didn't have this problem last year. We're in Missouri.
I feel like I'm about to have a panic attack right now. The thought of our 6yo DS, 4yo DD, and 2yo DS playing outside (or inside!) with snakes all around just makes my toes curl.
Please give me some encouragement here so I don't go crazy. |
...................Copperheads , usually don't grow much past 3 feet , so , it was probably a NON posionous species . , fordy
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04/20/11, 09:15 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 317
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Adult copperheads are typically 2 to 4 feet long, so that first one was likely shorter, or another kind.
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04/20/11, 10:05 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 690
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Mrs,
Witterboound is correct. You may not have copperheads. With a picture we can tell you for sure.
Windgefluster,
That is a banded water snake. Not a copperhead.
KMA1
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04/20/11, 10:13 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 529
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaitala
I believe that's a Nerodia sipedon (northern water snake). Head is too oval to be Agkistrodon, pattern looks like a Nerodia, and the presence of water in the shot seems to give it away. I don't know you, though, so if you are well versed in snakes and were just being facetious, .
For the OP, I never saw a snake outside my home in the 5 years I've been here. This year, I found a dead baby garter snake in the garden. Now, garter snakes do eat earthworms, and I have been improving the soil around the house. There are many more earthworms now than there were. So, I'm guessing they like the feast, and the poor baby didn't survive the winter.
Hope you can find a solution.
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No. Head shape is not right.
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04/20/11, 10:17 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast MO
Posts: 1,075
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We had a tremendous number of snakes our first year on the farm. Then... we got cats. I've only seen two snakes - and they were black snakes - in all the rest of the years we've been there. I'm not certain it's the cats taking care of the snakes, but something is.
Get rid of tall weeds, rock piles and "trash" piles (logs, lumber scraps, etc.). They like to hide in those kinds of places.
I'm extremely afraid of snakes, but they're pretty much just a fact of life in the Missouri Ozarks. Like ticks.
__________________
April
Southeast Missouri
Nubians, Boers, Jersey cows and a whole lotta ticks
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04/20/11, 10:19 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 529
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Quote:
Originally Posted by April
We had a tremendous number of snakes our first year on the farm. Then... we got cats. I've only seen two snakes - and they were black snakes - in all the rest of the years we've been there. I'm not certain it's the cats taking care of the snakes, but something is.
Get rid of tall weeds, rock piles and "trash" piles (logs, lumber scraps, etc.). They like to hide in those kinds of places.
I'm extremely afraid of snakes, but they're pretty much just a fact of life in the Missouri Ozarks. Like ticks. |
I imagine the cats are eating up their main food source (mice) and they have moved on. I always try to keep a coule of farm cats around for that purpose.
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04/20/11, 10:24 AM
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Singletree Moderator
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Kansas
Posts: 12,972
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I had not seen a snake for years-the terrier kills them- but this year I have seen 3 of them! Fortunately the dog had them. He can KEEP them: He doesn't really want to share his snakes with me and I have no desire to share them anyways!
Apparently Kansas and Missouri are having bad snake years.
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04/20/11, 10:31 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,373
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Windgefluester
oh i saw a lot of snakes in TN
is this a copperhead?
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I agree, not a copperhead. Looks like a water snake to me too. Not poisonous but will bite anything that moves.
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04/20/11, 11:26 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 5,069
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We have seen several snakes already but I have a live and let live policy with anything except Copperheads because they help keep the rodents down. Our cats and Jack Russel Terrior so far seem to keep them out of the farm yard but I am still cautious...Copperheads wont bother you if you dont bother them but if you dont see them and intrude into their safe zone they strike without warning.
We have more spiders than snakes though, Brown Recluse, black widows and we saw and were in awe over a huge Missouri Tarrantula that we observed on the side of the house (he got to live...very cool spider by the way).
You just need to remember that there are poisonous spiders and snakes in lots of areas and folks have been living in Missouri for a couple hundred years and have managed to survive. I would suggest you study about them, learn their habits and what to look for and then your fear will diminish. I used to absolutely hate spiders and had a particular fear of the jumping wolf spiders in Missouri...now I actually enjoy observing them like I do other wildlife around here.
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04/20/11, 11:47 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NW AR
Posts: 549
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I agree with those that suggest getting a cat or two. Also chickens - our hens will really go after a baby snake..
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04/20/11, 12:33 PM
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homesteader
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: SE Missouri
Posts: 28,248
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I lost a doe to a timber rattler this yr. I shot the rattler, it was in my yard. Can't say this yr has been worse than usual for snakes. Been bad every yr.
If you are getting snakes in the house, you need to find where they are coming in and plug the holes. They can get in thru some tiny holes!
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Cyngbaeld's Keep Heritage Farm, breeding a variety of historical birds and LaMancha goats. (It is pronounced King Bold.)
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04/20/11, 12:46 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 1,420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by April
We had a tremendous number of snakes our first year on the farm. Then... we got cats. I've only seen two snakes - and they were black snakes - in all the rest of the years we've been there. I'm not certain it's the cats taking care of the snakes, but something is.
Get rid of tall weeds, rock piles and "trash" piles (logs, lumber scraps, etc.). They like to hide in those kinds of places.
I'm extremely afraid of snakes, but they're pretty much just a fact of life in the Missouri Ozarks. Like ticks. |
The cats took care of the mice and rats which attracted the snakes most likely. Take out the food source and habitat and most of them will move on to greener pastures.
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I really hate snakes. I know they are beneficial...I do NOT believe they are more afraid of me than I am of them!
