Bad bad snake

[TinaMarieofFL]

TinaMarie, it's not a myth about black racers killing venomous snakes. I've seen it multiple times with my own eyes. So have many other people. The black rat snakes, often confused with black racers, do not kill venomous snakes.

I'm not saying black racers NEVER kill venomous snakes, its just that they will not stop them from coming around. As far as relying on the black racers to keep venomous snakes away, NOPE.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

not a fan of snakes. I'd relocate him...far far away

The problem with relocating it is that I would have to pick the yucky thing up alive! NOPE.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The problem with relocating it is that I would have to pick the yucky thing up alive! NOPE.

That's what I was thinking! How on earth do you "relocate" a snake? "Oh, excuse me, Mr. Snake, please wait right there while I go get some form of transport that will hold you, I don't happen to have a snake cage in my pocket at the moment ..." The last time a snake and I surprised each other, I grabbed it by the tail and we got in a tug of war as it had swallowed a couple of eggs and was entwined in my milk-carton nests. It couldn't go anywhere until my boy brought me a hatchet.

 

[MROO]

So there's a black snake in the barn eating the hen eggs. Should I kill it? Everyone says that Black snakes are good snakes. My husband has been helping me with my hobby farm, since I broke my foot, and has told me there has been no eggs. Today the goats were screaming in the pen. I used the scooter and got down in the pen. I figured since I am here, I'll crawl in the barn and get the egg. So thats when Mr. No Legs and I met. 3 eggs. On in the snake and two in the nest. Proof husband is not checking. Goats are fine. I put up the chicken in the bunny hutch until we can figure what to do with the unwanted snake.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Goatsanddogs - don't be too hard on hubby ... snake was in the process of gulping down those eggs. Hubby may have been checking, but snake beating him to them! When I found that snake in my nest, I thought my hens weren't laying, either. I was getting zero to two eggs a day. The day I caught him, there were two eggs in the snake, one in his mouth, and five in the nest!

 

[MROO]

That's what I was thinking! How on earth do you "relocate" a snake? "Oh, excuse me, Mr. Snake, please wait right there while I go get some form of transport that will hold you, I don't happen to have a snake cage in my pocket at the moment ..." The last time a snake and I surprised each other, I grabbed it by the tail and we got in a tug of war as it had swallowed a couple of eggs and was entwined in my milk-carton nests. It couldn't go anywhere until my boy brought me a hatchet.

The easiest way to catch and move a snake is to use a cylindrical minnow trap. They go inside it to get the egg bait and can't get out. You can then simply pick up the carrier and transport it to wherever you want to release the snake. I'd definitely check with your local wildlife people first, though. They'll let you know where to take it - maybe directly to them so they can make sure it goes to a safe environment.

This one is from Cabela's and it costs less than $10.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, but .... I didn't know I had a snake until I saw it eating my eggs, and there was no telling if or when I would see it again. It did not occur to me to let it keep eating eggs while I ordered a trap, waited for delivery, and then hung around in the hen house hoping to see it again so I could try to catch it. I just reacted instantly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Like any of us people might right your fine @BigBlueHen53

 

[MROO]

Yes, but .... I didn't know I had a snake until I saw it eating my eggs, and there was no telling if or when I would see it again. It did not occur to me to let it keep eating eggs while I ordered a trap, waited for delivery, and then hung around in the hen house hoping to see it again so I could try to catch it. I just reacted instantly.

WalMart sells 'em, too. So do most old-fashioned hardware, feed stores and bait shops. The Cabela's trap is just the first decent picture I found. And I wouldn't worry about not seeing your visitor. As long as its' favorite fast-food egg restaurant is in business, it'll be back.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

If you think you won't see it again or consistently enough to trap, then why kill it?