[Ravenlost]

Number three was the smallest at two feet...the third cottonmouth killed in our front yard (down by the pond). Hubby was just sitting in his lawn chair and our six-month-old Border Collie started barking and having a fit. He walked over to see what it was and BAM got it with a big rock (he said he'd been keeping the rock down there for just this purpose). UGH...he brought it to the house on a stick so I could see it (now I'll have snake nightmares tonight).

I am just grateful the dog or the hubby didn't get bitten. The dog that was bitten by the huge cottonmouth earlier this summer wouldn't come close to this one. Smart doggie!

 

[fordy]

.................They are nasty critters . Most seem to exhibit fairly aggressive behavior when confronted closeup . I believe I would want to carry alittle 410 snake charmer . I can't remember who makes it but would be sufficient for a cotton mouth with minimum kick..........fordy....

 

[Cyngbaeld]

Summer my youngest brother turned six he was playing on the porch next to one of those old fashioned luggage racks (the kind that strapped to the top of the car). We had just moved to an older house in the Alabama countryside surrounded by woods. My sister came round the side of the house and started screaming. There was a HUGE cottonmouth draped around the luggage rack with its mouth just above Keith's head. My Dad came running, grabbed Keith's arm and JERKED him off the porch. Then he used a hoe on the snake. Saw several more in the woods but none up by the house again. I think the dogs kept them away from the house.

 

[Ravenlost]

The other two he got with the rifle, but has gotten out of the habit of taking it to the pond with him.

Pretty sad that we need to carry a gun with us to enjoy our front yard, but that's what we get for having a pond right smack in front of the house!

I love winter. No snakes!

 

[Rouen]

I'd be careful where you advertise killing wildlife, I'm not sure about where you live but someplaces have laws against killing venomous snakes... be like advertising you shoot hawks that fly by your house .

 

[Ravenlost]

Water moccasins aren't endangered here in Mississippi! Well, they are if they come in my front yard and I don't care who knows about it!

And I like the hawks that fly over my house and fields. They're gorgeous birds and they catch field rats!

Cyngbaeld - lots of poisonous snakes were I grew up in north Alabama too, mostly copperheads. Glad your Dad was able to save your little brother!

 

[marytx]

I'm glad that your border collie notifies you of snakes! Mine doesn't pay them any mind in the least, although she's been guilty of killing a rabbit and a number of chicks .

 

[Stand_Watie]

I'd be careful where you advertise killing wildlife, I'm not sure about where you live but someplaces have laws against killing venomous snakes... be like advertising you shoot hawks that fly by your house

Here is Mississippi State U's opinion on the legal status of killing snakes. Bear in mind you might need a hunting license to kill any snake that isn't immediately threatening you. We had a guy here in Texas that just got in trouble for killing cottonmouths because he didn't have a license. He got a couple hundred dollar fine I think.

http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2277.htm

***
Legal Status
Most snakes in Mississippi are not protected by state or federal law, but all snakes do come under the state’s regulatory authority. No native snake or snake part may be bought or sold or in any way entered into commercial trade. The black pine, eastern indigo, rainbow, and southern hognose snakes are listed as endangered in Mississippi. By federal law, the eastern indigo snake is listed as threatened.

 

[chickflick]

My pond, too has in the past been home to way too many of those little devils. Hubby would go down about 5 pm on weekends for a little shootin practice. It took two years, but I think they're history for now! Two summers ago they were all hangin in the trees, he said when he'd go down he would hear them 'PLOP' into the water!!

We got rid of several willows hanging around the banks that year!!

Keeping a duck or two or geese seems to help.... Anyone know if they eat the little ones? I kind of felt like they DID, cause it was during a birdless time the watermoccins got so prolific.

 

[DayBird]

Keeping a duck or two or geese seems to help.... Anyone know if they eat the little ones? I kind of felt like they DID, cause it was during a birdless time the watermoccins got so prolific.

The muscovies we used to have always killed and ate any snakes they found in the yard. The two peahens I currently have have eaten several smaller snakes that I know of this summer.

 

[peanutgreen]

Number three was the smallest at two feet...the third cottonmouth killed in our front yard (down by the pond). Hubby was just sitting in his lawn chair and our six-month-old Border Collie started barking and having a fit. He walked over to see what it was and BAM got it with a big rock (he said he'd been keeping the rock down there for just this purpose).

LOL-I think I've been up too long. When I read this, I read Cottonwood, not cottonmouth. I was thinking what the H*ll would he be killing a tree with a rock for, and why was the dog barking at it?? :haha: Jeez! I get stupider as the day goes on....

 

[Ravenlost]

LOL...thanks for the laugh peanutgreen! As the day went on he ended up killing another cottonmouth...with the rifle this time and the biggest one yet - three and a half feet!

We plan to get some geese and ducks next Spring. Muscovies aren't the prettiest ducks in the world, but if they kill snakes I'll get a dozen of them! We used to have them when I was a kid. I really don't want the "good" snakes like our big King Snake killed, just the copperheads and cottonmouths. Think I can teach the ducks the difference?