Copperhead on the front porch!

Calhoon · #21 05/28/12, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

Rarely do we find bad snakes near the house or barn. The cats used to do a good job of either eating or killing copperheads. But today, I was on the top step of the porch before I saw a medium size copperhead right in front of the door and he reared up his nasty head - scared me silly.

Of course I screamed like a wild girl but I did have the sense to run fetch a shovel and middle Son promptly cut off the copperhead's head. One dead copperhead.

We have seen two very large and polite Black Snakes near the house. Wonder why they had not run off the horrible copperhead?

What will scare away the copperheads?

well , from what you've said , it seems maybe those two big black snakes was chasing that smaller copperhead , and prolly would have killed it , , but it sought rufuge at your door , and they's places a smart black-snake won't go , , too many dogs & cats & shovels

good job by middle son , btw.

way I figure it , a snake is where you find it .

if you've never had a problem with copperheads before , I'd keep a sharp look for a few days , but as far as scaring a snake off , I've always heard that a real stout garlic slurry poured around the walls & weedy places irritated their skin , but I don't know first-hand if that works .

It'd be a smelly remedy , for certain , especially when a shovel works so well. :-) so do a shotgun , lol ...

am1too · #22 05/28/12, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanwhile

Rarely do we find bad snakes near the house or barn. The cats used to do a good job of either eating or killing copperheads. But today, I was on the top step of the porch before I saw a medium size copperhead right in front of the door and he reared up his nasty head - scared me silly.

Of course I screamed like a wild girl but I did have the sense to run fetch a shovel and middle Son promptly cut off the copperhead's head. One dead copperhead.

We have seen two very large and polite Black Snakes near the house. Wonder why they had not run off the horrible copperhead?

What will scare away the copperheads?

To much other good food (mice?).

nehimama · #23 05/28/12, 07:55 PM

Wish't I had more black snakes 'round here to run off the copperheads!

Pony · #24 05/28/12, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehimama

Wish't I had more black snakes 'round here to run off the copperheads!

You're welcome to stop by and pick some up...

meanwhile · #25 05/28/12, 08:05 PM

Yes - I agree that since we found that one copperhead then surely there are more. We are going on a Snake Hunt later this week. Will let you know what we find.

Elsbet · #26 05/28/12, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickfrosty

Where I live in Maine isn't perfect, but thank G. that there aren't any poisonous snakes & few snakes at all !!
!

Wanna make a bet? LOL. You can't count how many timber rattlesnakes I killed when I still lived on my folks homestead in Maine. If you look at the map of their range, they are shown right on the border of Maine/NH, mainly in NH, but ranges can change. Timber Rattlesnake Fact Sheet - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation I've seen them in Cornish, Hiram, Parsonsfield, and Brownfield. That is roughly where my folks live. We had a LOT of them on our property in Hiram. I've seen fewer poisonous snakes in SC in 8 years than I would see in a single summer up home.

I found two gorgeous blacksnakes beside our compost pile. I've got chickens, and we've got field rats. I've noticed a decrease in the fieldrats lately, so I think the snakes are getting them. Yay! We just check for eggs more frequently and keep the chicks inside until they are big. Better snakes than rats. If I had cats I'd relocate the snakes, but cats are the one animal our landlord doesn't want us to have. Here's a vid I took of them.

It was funny when we were taking the vid- the kids and I and ALL the chickens were in a ring around, watching them. Snow White was the only one who went really close, though, lol.

Ozarks Tom · #27 05/28/12, 09:49 PM

A few years ago I stopped to visit with an elderly neighbor lady. I notice on her concrete porch/patio a copperhead sunning himself. When she answered the door, I asked her what she'd named her new pet. When she saw the snake, she grabbed her 20 gauge she kept beside her door, and proceeded to blow it in half. Unfortunately, her nearly new Ford pu was parked next to her patio. Around $2500 bodywork.

Pony · #28 05/28/12, 10:08 PM

We took the goats on walkabout through the woods the other week. Whilst walking through a very brushy area, I felt something vibrate under my left foot.

I did not wait to see what sort of snake, reptile, or whatever it was, I just yelled, "MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

Nick and all the goaties went in the direction I was headed.

LOL! I will be more careful in future - AND I will wear heavier boots while out in the woods!

frankva · #29 05/29/12, 04:32 AM

Re the poisonous snakes in Maine. Don't forget the Gabon Viper that was found at the shopping plaza/vacant lot in Portland.

As a rule yes, but always use caution.

**Shrek** · #30 05/29/12, 05:19 AM

The only time I have seen snakes on my porch was just a bit before bullet holes show up on it.

DryHeat · #31 05/29/12, 09:23 AM

Elsbet, your video actually shows courtship/mating activity between the two black rat snakes. The one following would be the male, and especially his amorous focus would be why there were two crawling around in the open not paying much attention to people or chickens. Cool video!

motdaugrnds · #32 05/29/12, 09:34 AM

I created a more level drive from the house to the buckhouse in the back pasture; and in so doing had to place very large rocks down first....along side a strong treated wood barrier of 4x4 studs and 2" treated horizontals. Knowing copperheads love rocks, I invested in some oyster shells and filled up all the cracks with these shells. (This should make living in there a bit uncomfortable.) After the top coating of gravel was placed and a lot of rainy weather showing up some holes, I poured concrete down all those holes. Then laid the gravel and crushed run. (If any copperheads did manage to find my rocks, they won't last long as David found a very large black snake living at the buck house, which is only 10 ft away from where those rocks were placed.)

Still, knowing copperheads exist in this area, I am cautious when walking around. Our black snakes do a nice job of maintaining their territory; but a copperhead might actually slip in long enough to be discovered by humans.

Elsbet · #33 05/29/12, 12:02 PM

Yes, DryHeat- were thrilled to have seen this- not to be gross or weird, but it fits in with our biology studies homeschooling the kids, and they got to see it "in action" so to speak.

Elsbet · #34 05/29/12, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankva

Re the poisonous snakes in Maine. Don't forget the Gabon Viper that was found at the shopping plaza/vacant lot in Portland.

As a rule yes, but always use caution.

A GABON VIPER???? Oh my heck. Talk about exotic "pets" getting loose! Yikes.

meanwhile · #35 05/29/12, 12:49 PM

Great video - thanks for sharing it.

One of my son's said he thinks I will find a copperhead down in my toilet. Now...I cannot go to the bathroom without searching all around the toilet and looking in there too. I hate copperheads.

It is cloudy here today but I hope later this week the boys will get out and do a snake hunt.

meanwhile · #36 05/29/12, 12:52 PM

Can those blacksnakes eat a chicken? Or will they only eat the eggs?

Elsbet · #37 05/29/12, 04:31 PM

They will eat eggs and baby chickens. The male in my vid was close to 6 feet long, and I don't think he could have eaten a large chicken- maybe a very small bantam.

chrishicks82 · #38 05/29/12, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutchie

A Jack Russell terrier

I have had 3 Jack Russells and they are great the first time I saw our first one kill a copper head it scared the hell out of me thought for sure she was going to be dead but she killed that one and many others and man the other critters she has killed she is 13 years old now and just killed a opossum last winter. We have her son now and he has broken every chain and cable I have tied him up with. The 13 year old lives with my mom now she had to retire she was getting to old for that stuff

meanwhile · #39 05/30/12, 06:48 AM

We have two cats and they kill some of the smaller snakes. The Vet told us that cats have immunity to copperheads that dogs do not have. We try to get out and do a "snake hunt" several times in warm weather and usually get several. I have not been able to get the boys out this week yet. Older son returns tonight and hopefully we can Hunt snakes tomorrow.

I wish the black snakes we have seen would eat up the copperheads.

Calhoon · #40 05/31/12, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozarks Tom

A few years ago I stopped to visit with an elderly neighbor lady. I notice on her concrete porch/patio a copperhead sunning himself. When she answered the door, I asked her what she'd named her new pet. When she saw the snake, she grabbed her 20 gauge she kept beside her door, and proceeded to blow it in half. Unfortunately, her nearly new Ford pu was parked next to her patio. Around $2500 bodywork.

yeah , but no more snake . . . prolly had a poodle inside . LOL , great one , Tom . I can just see the car after a scatter gun blast . . . just goes that snakes are where you find them , , , and never mess with an old lady and her shotgun .

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankva

Re the poisonous snakes in Maine. Don't forget the Gabon Viper that was found at the shopping plaza/vacant lot in Portland.

As a rule yes, but always use caution.

several years ago , we took the kids to the Knoxville Zoo , which is a really nice zoo, btw . we were seeing the many sights , and came to the reptilian area . one of the larger ( 8'x4'x4' ) glass encloseures was the Giboon Viper , only it was empty . ... only it wasn't empty . . . . IT WAS JUST INVISIBLE.

Swear it , you couldn't see it . they had a few leaves & sticks in there , and it just disappeared , until it moved , finally . . . 10 " away , waist level , thick clear glass , and when it ran that tounge out and moved it's head , it like to have scared me to death , , out of instinct , I grabbed a couple of kids and leaped back , and holled the others 'BACK' ,,, they all were in as much awe as I was , that was a huge snake , as big around as a softball , and about 3 feet long , with a tiny puppy tale . .but it was the head that shocked me . I wear tight fit XL gloves , so I got big hands , i crossed my thumbs , and folded my hands over eachother to make an arrowhead , and the head was still bigger than my crossed hands. had a long skinny looking neck though , but still thick as a mans wrist even there , compared to the size of the body , whew , and ya say they got 'em growing wild in Portland ?