OMG I am shaking. Please advise.

[hikerchick]

I just went out to my pen to check everything for the night. I noticed a rather large black snake in there. I was intending to pick it up and relocate it when it lifted up its tail and rattled it at me.

I know it was not a timber rattler. I live in Pennsylvania. What kind of snake could it have been? Are there non venemous black snakes with rattling tails? I am so freaked out. He is still out there with my goats, ducks, and chickens. He slithered away and into a crevice in the wall.

 

[Emzyyy]

I dunno he prob has a rattle but some snakes pretend to have a rattle they can imitate the noise. I dunno what snake it is

 

[babyspice35]

I know nothing about snakes but wish you luck!!!

 

[thewarriorchild]

I dunno but I would clear everyone out till I got it... well until someone else gets it and clears the coop for me to, yea that sounds good!
Ekk creepy

 

[Imp]

BE VERY CAREFUL!!
There is a black rattlesnake in AZ. Probably not your problem, but there is a massauga rattlesnake that can be in your area I think. It can be deadly.

See about the 5th snake down in the link.


http://www.pestproducts.com/rattlesnakes.htm


Imp- lives in western Wa with no snakes

 

[mamaKate]

I've never seen a black rattlesnake. Several others do make the noise for self defense. I wouldn't worry about the goats, but if you have chicks, you need to move the snake or the chicks. Then seal your cracks tommorrow. Snakes and chickens of any size are not a good mix.

 

[WriterofWords]

Make one of those snake traps with several layers of the netting and nail it over the crevasse in the wall that he slithered into, maybe you can catch him.

 

[Holly O]

The Black-Tailed Rattlesnake is large and bold. The venom of this snake appears to be highly toxic. Considered dangerous to man.
Average length 3 feet, maximum length 5 feet.

Indigenous in the top western part of PA

 

[Mahonri]

I see a snake, it's gonna get a shovel,,,, unless I think I can relocate it.

 

[PeepsInc]

I'd kill it with a stick,or rock. Call animal control if you have no other options.