Best way I've found yet to deal with snake problems!!

[mitchell3006]

One of the best ways to dispatch snakes safely is Wasp and Hornet Spray. It is a nerve agent that causes near instant paralysis and death in snakes as well as insects. I used it frequently when working patrol as a police officer. I was the snake guy on the shift because I am not afraid of them. I do have a healthy respect for the poisonous ones. They were the ones that got the spray. The rest got caught and moved. It would amaze you how many "snake in the house" calls you get in the south.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

sjhorse....you can still get 'snakeshot' for a .38, I have some for mine.
The little shells are cylindrical rather then being pointed on one end, and the ones I have are silver color with a clear blue flat topped cap...you can see the little pellets through the cap.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

I forgot....another way to 'trap' them is with plastic bird netting....not spread out, but bunched up. They poke through the holes, get caught, and can't back out. Given, of course, they are the right size for those holes. I had a friend discover this when she found snakes in a bunch of netting that she'd put aside. I've found cast off snake skins when they shed in it too.

 

[sjhorse]

Quote:
Yup, that's the same ones that I have. Not legal here, but my Dad used them to shoot rats in the outbuildings. I have what is leftover. I am going to try and get some more....just in case...

 

[calista]

OP, what a great idea! I don't have to worry about snakes much here in Western Washington, but I was intrigued with the possibilities of using a minnow trap, which I'd never seen before.

So of course I had to see if there was anything online about how to build your own, for those who might want one but not have the funds to invest in purchasing.

This idea is cool and might work pretty well if the snakes are small:

http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/projects/69/make-your-own-minnow-trap/

I'm going to put a few of these together and bait them, just to see what's out there in the barn that I don't know about.

 

[yinepu]

We have a female Texas Rat snake that lives in our yard.. I have seen her slither under a hen and right back out the other side and the hen never budged. She is also "friends" with our barn cats. I've found them curled up next to each other sleeping.. the cat woke up, stretched, glanced at the snake and just yawned. Even our mailman was surprised at how "tame" our snake is. He saw me standing almost on top of her and she didn't even flinch. I know she helps herself to a few eggs here and there.. but she also takes care of any rodents we end up with (which the cats are too lazy to bother with). I just have to keep an eye on delivery men who may not understand about our resident snake and may try to run her over someday. So far she's been here at least three years that I know of. I hope she's around for many more!

 

[the-bird-man]

all i can say is i am sure happy i do not have to deal with snakes where i live! i know they do a lot of good in all but i prefer not to live close to them lol

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
I have 5 as pets in the house... lol
2 dumerils boas, a ball python and 2 corn snakes.

 

[lauramalicksmith]

OMG, the snakes are a nuisance this year. Seems like it's cyclical, but this is the worst year we've ever had. We've caught at least 30 snakes since May, all rat snakes except for one copperhead. It seems like it's been a fortune in eggs because we've kept eggs in the pens at all times to keep the snakes from going after the bantys and young chickens that aren't roosting yet. It has been successful up until 3 nights ago. We do a nightly snake check and two nights in a row I've caught a snake choking one of our hens. She's the only one that's been broody and has been knocked off the nest by snakes going after the eggs, but then a small rat snake that couldn't possibly eat her (too big) was choking her. I got there in the nick of time and she was ok. But then the next night, same thing, different snake even smaller than the night before. Again, the nick of time and she's ok. But I thought that would be the end of her wanting to sit. Nope. So for her safety she has been moved to a chick pen that is 100% snake proof. She can now just sit and be a mom.

But the snakes just keep coming. We don't kill them (except the copperhead), but we release further away. Rat snakes do good for the environment so makes no sense to kill them. Because there have been so many, we're going to start marking them to see if they are making their way back or if it's all new snakes. But it has been exhausting!

These minnow traps are an interesting idea. What keeps them for going out the hole? Do they just not figure the hole out?

 

[Kudzu]

brother