I'm torn about these snakes.. (photo included)

[Eggs4Sale]

I LOVE our bull snakes. They eat gophers and rattlesnakes. We have never seen a rattler, though my MIL has at her house, because she kills every snake, good or bad.
But our husband and wife team have taken to raiding the porch buckets every day now, eating all eggs they find.

Here's what I found yesterday.

So I bought 18 store-bought eggs and put 2 in each bucket.

This evening, I came out and was looking high and low for a snake, and ended up having my head practically right next to one. It was looking right at me, with an egg half-way in his mouth. I ran off the porch and stood gaping at the thing for 20 minutes easily, to see where it went when it was done. It ate 2 eggs and sauntered around casually inspecting the bleach bottles and washing machine.
But it was at least 5 feet long, not quite as thick as a soda can, but not far.

BTW, the husband and wife team, I saw them breeding in April. There will be more of them soon!!!
On a happy note, I don't see any gopher mounds anywhere.
So, any brilliant ideas on how to co-exist with some increasingly startling snakes?
I have dogs, and they don't seem to deter the patio egg thefts.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Beautiful snake, and I totally see your dilemma! I hate gophers, moles and would really hate to have rattlesnakes around, so anything that helps with those is pretty cool in my book.

Do they feed at specific times of the day? I'm wondering if you can time your egg collection so you get them before the snakes do?

Another idea... just be okay with sharing. Many gardeners learn to accept the fact that a % of their yield will go to feeding local wildlife... the fact that yours are killing venomous snakes and garden / lawn destroyers is almost worth it.

Hope other people have some good suggestions for you.

 

[Blackbird]

It was probably disappointed that it got fed store-bought eggs. I know I would be.

But actually buying eggs for wild snakes because your glad they're around is beyond me.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

They feed at no particular time. I saw them Saturday 11 a.m., Monday evening, and Tues. evening.

We plan to empty the patio of everything except the washing machine, and I'm going to screw some egg boxes to the walls, high enough to hopefully be safe.

 

[Mahonri]

snakes freak me out.

you are very tolerant.

There was a rattler up on Squaw Peak the other day, not far from the 3/4 bench but before the switchbacks.

I've seen many rattlesnakes up in the preserve, I'd go nuts if i saw one here at the house.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Quote:
That's EXACTLY why I tolerate the bullsnakes.

I guess it's kind of like how you can't choose your neighbors, so do you want the shoplifter or the murderer? These snake shoplifters here will eat any murderers, so that's a plus.

BTW, if I see a rattlesnake here, I will not have the same reaction as I have with the bullsnakes. Rattlers are NOT allowed here even if they don't eat the eggs!

 

[chickencoop31320]

I think you're on the right track with reorganizing your porch.
Perhaps a covered bucket to collect eggs in? I got a plain old gray 5 gallon bucket at Lowes for $3-4 and a lid for around $2 I think. If you want to get the fancier "painter's bucket" they're $6-7 and the same lid fits them. The difference between them: $6 bucket has measuring lines, is nearly clear and has a padded handle.

I have an "I don't mess with you, you don't mess with me" relationship with all snakes and other animals. I don't kill snakes unless they are poisonous. I don't kill other predators unless they come near my animals. I purposely mow my grass VERY low and often to help deter any animals from my coming near my chicken coop and my home.


I think you're wise for keeping the harmless snakes around.

I hope you find a way to coexist with them without losing any more eggs.

 

[lovemychix]

That is a big snake.

I know they are a benefit but I don't think I could ever ever let it live around me. I would be a nervous wreck everytime I went outside.
I love that pic of that chicken checking out the snake. Wouldn't that snake try to eat a small chicken.

 

[chickensioux]

Wow, snakes are awesome and beautiful but the size of those guys would freak me out.

 

[eggsforsale]

Holy cow!!! Great pix! That really woke me up this morning! You are quite the woman eggs4sale!!!

We have water snakes that appear here and there from time to time. We have lots of irrigation water around. We find the skin they've shed. I think they're cool and have personally caught a few to show the grandkids and then let them go, BUT I hate being surprised when one darts out from somewhere. It gets the adrenaline pumping for sure! I don't think water snakes eat eggs. They aren't very big. We also have a big gopher and vole problem. They obviously don't eat them.
As for babies, there was a spot on our local news about a nest of babies hatching under someones front porch. There were little snakes EVERYWHERE. Crawling up the rain gutter, peeking from behind the shutters, behind the flower pots, etc. It freaked me out. Too many... Good luck! You are very brave, wise and have a big heart. I don't know what I would do. Keep us posted....