When I moved to where I am now, in the first three months I killed 33 rat snakes and one copperhead. I stopped counting after that. The first few rat snakes I took off and released. But when I stopped getting any eggs and three month old birds were getting killed, half-swallowed, and then coughed up I waged war. The second year there were some, but I wasn't over run. I think the third year I saw three or four rats snakes, two copperheads, and one moccasin. It's why I keep everything mowed super duper short. I can't stand going out and finding two or three in the coop. I remember one night I got two in the original chicken pen. About had a heart attack because it was dark and they were by my face. Dispatched them and needed a breathing treatment. Sat down on the front porch to let the adrenaline chill out and looked up and there was a six footer on a ledge of the ceiling on the porch that is maybe a half inch wide, eating the baby barn swallows out of their nest. I was not pleased. lol
