For those of you out there that hate King snakes (black snakes)

[dichotomymom]

I was hoping to retire in Tennessee. Do you have a lot of copperheads (so many that it is a daily concern?) I'm from IN and while we have copperheads, they are mostly in southern Indiana.

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

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I haven't ran across any this year. Or ever for that matter. The photo in this thread was taken in Georgia. I cant speak for all of Tennessee though. I live in the South eastern part.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

People think I'm nuts because I actually don't mind the non-venomous snakes around. Before I put all my chickens behind hardware cloth I lost one juvenile silkie to a big black snake. But we caught the snake and rehomed it. We don't have rodents anymore!!

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

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I wish more people felt the same way. I don't mind venomous ones either, they just startle me some times. To be honest most people don't know it but your not very likely to die or loose a limb from a copperhead. Friend of mine in Georgia raises and breeds them. He has never went to the hospital from a bite, and has been bit, he said most people just have a lot of swelling and pain. No doubt its not a walk in the park either but its certainly not deadly. I imagine it might be more dangerous for smaller children and pets however.

 

[animals1981]

IF U have kids u really need a lot of king snakes around ur yard u cant risk ur kids getting bit by a rattle snake and king snakes eat them like candy

 

[animals1981]

george is a rare indigo snake an endangered species very rare u should be careful it doesnt get hurt

indigo snakes like king snakes will eat other snakes they are not constrictors and kill by biting the other animal to death they wont go after large things like chickens not even bantam chickens because they cant open their jaws wide like a rat snake can


the 12 foot snake is a python no snake in america grows to 12 feet looks like u have a feral python u should get it out of ur barn asap b4 it eats ur cats

 

[Thamnophis]

There are no 12 foot snakes in North America. But our eyes play tricks on us when we are scared.

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[Thamnophis]

The first 2 pics are black rat snakes. The 3rd is indeed a kingsnake.


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[Thamnophis]

Its not a watersnake either - its an eastern hognose snake.
Not trying to be snooty, just helping inform where I can.



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[Thamnophis]

Cool pics! Those are black rats on the trees, but the other pics are juvenile black rats. They are born blotched grey on a lighter gray background and slowly darken with age.

The smooth green snake pic is actually a rough green snake.



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Oh, it's my lack of photographic skills (why I listed the shots as a dorsal/ventral view of same snake). It is definitely a Prairie King (light grey to dark grey depending on age). They are very common here. Found one clamped on to the back end of a mouse in a snap trap, down in the laundry room, etc.

The Black Ratters overwinter under our house (old stone foundation). The first shot below shows the chimney to the left and the ratter's head poking through a knot hole in the door frame of a downstairs bedroom. The second shot is clearer (if you look at the right eye you can see that is milky - ready to get outside and shed). The last shot is of a Black Ratter that had had more than enough harassment from our turkey hen and went vertical.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/BR0309b.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/BR0309c.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/ScalyBark061108.jpg

Our favorites are the Smooth Green Tree Snakes:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/greensnake4.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/greensnake3.jpg

We like having the snakes around (voles/moles/mice/rats). Unfortunately, so do the chickens...
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/SnakeEater071509a1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/SnakeEater071509b1.jpg
(she's eating a Flat Headed snake)

ed:sp