CottonMouth

danielsumner · #1 07/23/13, 06:27 PM

When it comes to snakes, my motto is usually live and let live, but today was not that day. Went to get in the truck this morning and the DW says to stop were I am and look to my left. Coming down the concrete drive about twenty feet away is a large snake. On looking a little closer I can tell it’s a poisonous one. I get my shovel and hoe. The snake coils and opens his mouth. I now know why it called a CottonMouth. It was about three feet long, and very thick in the middle. Warning to his friends and family, too close to the house and you gotta go.

Ernie · #2 07/23/13, 06:40 PM

Ain't nothing that can be done about it. I hear ya. I squish 'em too when they get up near the house.

I try to let them live in the pond, but occasionally they're aggressive and I go fetch my shotgun.

Ramblin Wreck · #3 07/23/13, 07:03 PM

Yeah, and all the rain seems to be bringing them out. Before this year, I saw maybe three snakes near my yard in the last 15 years. This Spring/Summer, I've seen three already...and there's a lot of Summer/Fall left to go.

Ernie · #4 07/23/13, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin Wreck

Yeah, and all the rain seems to be bringing them out. Before this year, I saw maybe three snakes near my yard in the last 15 years. This Spring/Summer, I've seen three already...and there's a lot of Summer/Fall left to go.

A BUNCH of them got washed out of the creeks with this last big rain and ended up in my pond. I was beginning to think of that scene from Lonesome Dove with the Irish kid crossing the river.

But I let it ride for a few days and they seem to have all dispersed, except for about 2-3.

Big Dave · #5 07/24/13, 06:25 AM

Ok so you dispatched it. How did you dispose of it? The fangs are still deadly. I burn the venomous ones. The others I relocate. Stay safe there Daniel Sumner
Just my.02

danielsumner · #6 07/24/13, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Ok so you dispatched it. How did you dispose of it? The fangs are still deadly. I burn the venomous ones. The others I relocate. Stay safe there Daniel Sumner
Just my.02

I tossed him in the woods by way of the shovel. It was quite heavy. I'm being very careful about the snakes. I even bought myself a pair of Snake Boots. They were expensive, not real comfortable to walk in, but I feel much safer stomping about the property.

PrettyPaisley · #7 07/24/13, 09:03 AM

I'm all for not killing the good snakes but since I've got little ones around (and gobs of goats) I'm not taking a chance with the venomous ones. There is a reason there are so many more beneficial snakes - so I figure I'm just doing my job keeping the dangerous ones down!

We have a baby king snake in the barn that I've seen a couple of times and I'm so excited about him I look for him every day! I hope he sticks around happy and safe and chooses to live in our spot for a long happy life!