Our mega drought this year (Texas) seems to have 'stimulated' the snakes a bit on our ranch. Mostly rat snakes, but last week I found my first rattler lounging alongside the outside of the barn, not far from one of the chicken runs. Only about 2' long, no coiling, no rattling, no hissing. I laid down a feed sack along the barn wall, open end facing him/her. My snake/trash picker-upper was back at the house so I put a broom and a stick behind the snake and asked it to go into the feed sack, which it did. I put the broom, the stick, and my foot over the closed end. Phoned my husband to come assist while I duct-taped the feed sack closed and proceeded to do a rattler release about 2 miles away. Not saying anyone should use my methods, but it helps to have a variety of useful stuff and tools nearby, and always cell phone, in case you have to act quickly.
