Snake in Lay Boxes -Dangerous ?

[BabyGirls]

On the size of the snake he was about 2 feet and pretty thick like a hot dog thick ! A black with a little gold lines (if I recall correctly)

 

[Nupine]

I think I would die!!!!!

lovemychicks-Blacksnakes are pretty big, up to 6 ft or so, all black, but I think they might have yellow bellies? IDK. They have small heads, and are very fast, one of the fastest in North America. They are common snakes, can crawl up trees, through holes, and they are quite fearful of humans. Thankfully. That is as much info as I can think of. If you search blacksnake, as I did when I was a few, you can find lots of sites with more info and pics.

 

[Bluedog420]

I agree with you, KINNIP...lol

 

[Jenski]

If you don't like picking up snakes, it's pretty easy to take a garden hoe and gently pick them up and put them where you want them. Just be careful not to injure them in the process (if your goal is moving them).

How one deals with snakes is a very personal preference, and my own is to just move non-poisonous ones to the back of my yard near the fields. Secure the coop and run, no worries.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[RASTACHICKI]

Get some .22 caliber RAT SHOT! That should work!!!

 

[theOEGBman]

Seriously, I'd love to find a snake in my nestbox. Then atleast I'd know we have some out here taking care of rodents. I love snakes, so I'd never kill one. But for people that dont know them as well as I do, and dont appreciate them for what they do, its kind of rough. Do what you think you should, but IMO, I'd get a bucket, a shovel/stick (or in my position, my hands so I can touch it!

), scoop it out and release it somewhere. It might come back, but what is an egg every once in a while to all of the rodents the snake will eat?

 

[jjthink]

I'm with Jenski and OEGB.

And I hear you about the spider!! When I walk into a web at night and can't see where the spider went I am convinced it's in my hair and will crawl out, across my face of course!
JJ

 

[Blondie]

We see a snake occasionally in the nest box, but when we try to get it out with a rake, it's like picking up a piece of spaghetti - he keeps sliding out of the rake. I try to twirl the rake like a fork, but it doesn't work. I don't want to kill him, I just don't know how to grasp him securely to re-home him. Any other suggestions?????

 

[crtrlovr]

Their instinct will be to want to get away into a dark place. If you have a black or dark colored flower pot (like the kind plants come in from the nursery or wal-mart), or even a pillowcase (the darker the better), put it in front of the snake and it will probably go in without any coaxing. If it doesn't go in right away, take a stick (or use your hand if you can do it without fainting!) and stroke its tail just enough for it to realize it's being touched. It's instinct will be to get away, and that may be enough to coax it into the waiting flower pot or pillowcase. Once it's inside, twist the pillowcase shut, or cover the flowerpot with something like a pillowcase or plastic bag. DO NOT PUT THE SNAKE IN A PLASTIC BAG ITSELF; IT WILL SUFFOCATE!!! Take to a far away place and release.

 

[birdlover]

This may be more trouble than it's worth but they make snake repellers for birdhouses out of hardware cloth. It's simply made in such a way that the cut wires stick out and keep the snake from sliding into the birdhouse. Snakes won't crawl over something sharp like that. I'd say it's about 5" deep and I can't remember how you attach it but it encircles the hole the birds go in. Maybe you could create something similar to go around the nest boxes? Just a thought. I thought it was ingenious for deterring snakes from going in birdhouses!