Lots more snakes this year?

I can't say if there is more snakes this year since we have only owned our property for two years but I am impressed with the variety. Last year we had a huge black snake in our lower field and I hit a copperhead with the bush hog while mowing.
This year while building fence we saw a small garter snake and a nice sized bull snake.
By the way thanks for all the feedback about building fence, it really helped!

See, this is why I love this site...I feel encouraged after reading the posts! It does make me feel better that DH probably misidentified the 6 foot snake and if he misidentified that one then maybe he was also incorrect about the others. While I'm not fond of ANY snake at least it's nice to think that what we have here are non-venemous snakes.

We do have two barn cats that do a great job of catching mice. The female just had a litter of six kittens yesterday. We also have a flock of 17 chickens that free range around the house and barn on a daily basis. So, hopefully they'll all do a better job about keeping the snake (and tick!) population down.

I've printed up an article with color pictures of snakes from the Missouri Department of Conservation. I think it would be good to study it and get more familiar with the venomous and non-venomous snakes that we have in our area.

Thanks for all your help!

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www.SAHMville.blogspot.com

Don't want snakes? Don't mow..... If you mow the grass short you'll see more of them. Afterall, isn't that what really bothers folks- SEEING the snakes? I mean you do realize that they live all around you....don't you? (all the above statement written with tongue planted firmly in my cheek)

haven't seen any but we do have 3 1/2 inches of fresh snow on the ground, maybe that is why??

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Brenda Groth
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

We're in south central Missouri and we've got a bumper crop of snakes this
year and like you most of the ones I've seen are copperheads.
I've probably killed more copperheads in the past 2-3 weeks then in the
previous 5 or so years combined.

I have never seen a snake on our farm and even if there are some, they can stay hidden. I imagine there may be more this year as we had a mild winter. We have cats that are great at catching the rats and field mice and chickens.

I would check out your crawl space or basement.

Teach the children about snakes and what to do if they encounter one. Also what to do if they get bit.
Also tell them about spiders. Black widows and brown recluse.


I don't live in MO, but love it and have been there a number of times. Have distant family in the north of MO but prefer the Ozarks.

Copperheads don't get six feet long.

I am from the Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are. I know my snakes since I am an owner and handler of venomous and nonvenomous. I also relocate. I am in Florida now but in all my years that I have seen so called copperheads killed in the north, non of them were copperheads. Not ever a single one. MIlk snakes, ratsnakes, corn snakes, and water snakes killed as copperheads and never a copper head killed from what was shown to me. They always ask my ID after the fact. I also hear they kill water moccasins. Moccasins do not live in the north east. Only water snakes.

I know that we are having large amounts of rain so we are seeing more snakes. More rain mean the snakes can travel further from creeks, ponds, etc. Luckily they have been corn snakes and garter snakes. However, we are keeping our eyes open.

TheMrs. copperheads are PRETTY. they look like they have hershey's kisses on them. No kidding. not that I am trying to keep them around though.

the mo dept of conservation website has a page with snake pictures on them so you can identify them yourself.

Our muscovy ducks love to eat snakes of all sizes.