Oh no! Could Someone Please Come And Remove This?

Look who came to visit NOW!!! Magpye, are you out there? I can sure get into some trouble, can't I?

I was headed out, camera in hand, to see what was blooming today. My little Maltese puppy scampered out the back door. I was right behind him. I looked out and saw this little fella just outside the door. With the snake there, I couldn't go out. Seeing that I was not with him, the puppy, who expects to be under my feet at all times, tried to come back! I kept shouting at him to go and sit and stay and barely managed to keep him from coming back past the snake. The snake just sat there and refused to leave! I pushed at him with a long stick (from inside and behind the door), but he didn't even budge! All this while the dog kept trying to come back! I snapped a few quick pics so that i would be able to id him later. I was SO hoping the pics would prove him to be some harmless mimic. : (

Then when I downloaded the pics and zoomed in on the eyes...I knew that I could never go into the garden again!

Well, I'll just have to get the house on the market and MOVE!

Closer. Ewwww! The stuff of nightmares!

Would anybody like to buy a home on the coast? It comes with a pre-planted garden and a few "pets", including but not limited to: a tufted timouse that eats the window screens, a very friendly racoon, and NOW this cute little fella.

SCUT,
I dont know nuthin bout no east coast snakes, but I'd say is either a cottonmouth, (water moccasin), or rattlesnake, but I am NO Steve Irwin. You pay the airfair, I'll come remove it, lol. Dont think the snout is pointy enough for a copperhead. Lemme know what you find out.

Regards;
bluelytes

No problem on that airfare, bluelytes! You want to ride up in First Class?

Options for my area are generally limited to: Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Eastern Diamond Back, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Canebrake or Timber Rattler.

SCUT,
Agreed re: First Class, but ONLY for the trip BACK. That way you are not out that much in case the snake is FASTER than me!! ;) :))

Regards;
bluelytes

Sure looks like a copperhead to me! We have them here, too, but I have been very fortunate not to come across one in my garden. But now you have me SCARED! BTW, he's still out there somewhere, isn't he? Jeeminy!!

There is no doubt that that is a copperhead!!. You have to find him and get rid of him-you will never be able to relax in your yard until you do. Was he sunning in the doorway? When he comes back today you have to get him-I always have my sons remove them (by remove I don;t mean take away alive!!) If you can't kill him then go get some deer netting and put it around where you think he is and when he comes out to sun, he will get all tangled up in the netting-crumble it up on the ground and make sure he can't slide underneath it.

Gawd, Sheryl you have all the fun. First Mr. T, and now this! What will happen next??

Hi Joseph, Did you miss the thread about the racoon that climbed down the back fence and followed me around the yard like a puppy? He refused to go back into the woods. When I chased him and tried to act "frightening", he would go back over the fence for 5 minutes. Then when he thought I wasn't looking he'd start sneaking back down the fence with me standing there! Then he got where everytime the puppy and I went in the back yard within minutes he'd start sneaking down the fence - and he'd come right up to us like he was a pet or something. He only destroyed the bird feeder - a few hundred times.

I must say, trouble does seem to follow me around though, doesn't it?!

Up till this thread I wouldn't have minded living in your neighborhood Scutler (even with the titmouse and raccoon) but I'll take my winter over having snakes (or nasty spiders) like that around. ;S

tigerlily, you are right. Last night around 3AM I went out on the front lawn in my jammies to "walk" the puppy - no way I was going back out there in the backyard in the dark! This afternoon when I got home from work, I wanted to go out and "play" with my flowers - mostly lilies coming in fast now, and I wanted to take pictures. After a careful search of the area, I forced myself to go out onto the patio. I had barely gotten off the patio when I saw a dead rat - near the patio. You know what that means, right? That means the snake had just recently struck the rat and was in the area waiting for the rat to die so he could eat it. Needless to say, I just could not stay out there knowing he was nearby.

ceejay, I made a few mistakes that you, hopefully, didn't make. First I planted a lush, full, cottage-style garden in my backyard which borders a forest. Then, I started feeding the birds, lots and lots of the cute little guys. Unfortunately, eventually the rats found my little garden and saw that with all of the vegetation to hide in and bird seed to pilfer it was perfect for them. I killed a few, but obviously did not get them all. So it was only a matter of time before the snake came in search of his dinner, the rat and the bird and the bird's eggs. He, too, is most comfy amidst the lush plantings.

S, you folks got anymore space up there? Suddenly, I think I'd like snow, too!

tigerlily, about that deer netting, I learned that by accident a few years ago when a black snake got stuck in the netting I was using to protect my roses. I had to take it down at night and put it up in the evenings - until I found the "scarecrow". I got tired of carrying it back and forth to the garage so I left it loosely rolled up at the base of a tree in my front flowerbed. The snake tried to climb the tree to get to the bird's nest. When I came home, the snake was dead. Only his head and about 8" of his body were actually in the netting. I read that snakes cannot "back up",but must go forward and turn around. When he couldn't go forward he was stuck, and he died.

I'm glad you brought that up. I'm going to call animal control to come and get him. No one answered today, probably left early for the weekend. But I think I'll get out my extra roll of netting and put it around the patio and other areas he might frequent. If nothing else, maybe I can keep him away from the house until help arrives.

LOLOLOLOL ;) Let's see we have a population of 30 million and a land mass of 4 million square miles Yep I do believe we have a *bit* of room to spare.

Some snakes don't like music , the heavy base that makes the car rattle . I was told to leave a radio on in my green house to keep them out .
The wife is afraid of even the little garden snakes , so the radio stays on most of the time after easter .
She saw a feral cat eating a snake so now she leaves food for the cats .
There is some stuff called snake away that the army used in Desert Storm you used to be able to buy off internet . The trouble is when it gets wet it doesn't work anymore . Hope this helps
-------
http://www.pestcontrolamerica.com/servlet/the-Snake-Repellent/Categories?gclid=CK_I74abl4UCFStqDgodHns5Eg

Equil, I can make you a good deal on a home where you will never be bored, lonely, or lack for pets - something new climbs out of the forest every other day it seems...not to mention a front row seat for the East coast 06 hurricane season. AND, yesterday, the HOA bulletin contained a reminder not to play with the alligators that will be climbing out of the community ponds to sun themselves this time of year!

Thank you, Tony.

It's very wet and humid here, and I have automatic sprinklers to boot. I was considering one of those chemical deterents. Glad you mentioned that they break down with moisture. Probably wouldn't work well here. In a few weeks we'll have near 100% humidity; sometimes you can't tell if you are walking or swimming.

I had heard that snakes steer clear of cats. Yesterday I wanted to run out and get a few. But I live in city limits and am not allowed to have an outside cat; likewise, ferrel cats are trapped and removed.
I also considered a big dog for the backyard because I read that dogs also kill snakes. My luck he would bark at night, dig up the garden, and tunnel under the fence to escape.

That music idea sounds interesting, but again, city, small yards, close neighbors, probably can't do that either. Then again, tomorrow during the day, I might try it. Base should rattle his fangs even at low volume.

Great ideas, though, thanks.

Sweetie, I appreciate your offer... really I do but... my home is one of those homes where I am never bored, lonely, or lacking for pets. You and me could swap and feel right at home in each others homes. Needless to say the grass isn't greener on the other side and after a week at my place, you'd be happy when the men in the little white coats came to take you away.

Here's something I think you best consider buying-
http://www.drytheair.com/xcart/store/catalog/product_16144_Rat_Zapper_2000.html

If you buy one of these, you will be a very happy girl. They work and they work quite well.

I had always thought that Charleston SC would make a wonderful place to retire. I thank you for banishing those thoughts from my mind. Hurricanes (had some of that myself last year with Rita), rats, copperheads, and alligators. My, my!
I used to feed the birds, but we attracted rats, raccoons, opposums and skunks. The rats got in the attic and ate through the wires for the intercom/doorbell, the raccoons would sit on top of the roof and poop - and try to get into the garage, and the skunks - well, you know what skunks do. The dogs next door would scare them, and we'd have to go to the other end of the house to try and sleep. That odor can line the insides of you nostrils and there's no getting rid of it!
But all mild compared to your disasters, m'dear!
CJ

Thanks, Equil! Last night I was SO scared I actually considered mowing down all of my plants and hanging up my feeders (or taking them down as the case may be). I will order one right away. bbzzzt! Yep! That's a nice sound!

I have so been there Scutler...20 yrs of living here and only saw one copperhead a few years ago-then last summer we killed 4 of them (well the deer netting got one lol) . I went around cutting down huge shrubs and grasses, I was so freaked out-we have woods all around us too, and I was thinking I would pour cement all over the property-make it look like Disneyworld!! One of them was 4" from my hand where I was weeding to plant some lantana. I heard this rat-a-tat-tat sound and I stopped and the sound stopped so I kept weeding and then the sound started again and I thought-thats an animal of some kind,,,,,and then thats when I saw it all coiled up right where my hand had been 2 secs before with his little tongue whipping around and his tail hitting this piece of wood really fast!!! I freaked-and I mean freaked!!! He was so well camoflouged -I just got up and ran to the house screaming for my sons lol. It took them 5 mins to see him and that was with me pointing right at him, and he was a big boy-about 1.5" wide and 2' long-but still coiled up and mad.
If they bite you then the flesh starts to rot there and thats all I could think about-this big hole on my hand. So when I saw your picture and I am out in the garden weeding today-all I could think about was copperheads!!

CJ, I have the rats, racoons, oppossum, and squirrels, along with rabbits and deer. No skunks here, thankfully. Last summer a titmouse spent all day, every day working to destroy 4 of my window screens - just cut the wires one at a time with his tiny little beak - opened the window like a tin can. A peacock used to come here from the local public garden. He would wander around the garden hunting for snacks while knocking everything down with his big tail. Then he would get up on the roof and scream like a frightened woman in the early AM. I used to ride my horse along a canal where alligators frequently sunned themselves. As we approached they would scurry down the bank and belly-flop into the water. It was weird riding over the print they left in the sand, but on the horse I felt pretty safe. Last year I was walking around the pond with my little Maltese. Suddenly, she ran down to the water's edge to investigate, and I was horrified realizing that she would just be an appetizer.

When a nearby military facility was built, they found a huge, old male alligator on the property. Rather than disturb his habitat and relocate him, they cut out a section for him on the perimeter of the facility - like extra security.

Don't you guys in TX have some pretty bad snakes, too - like that Mohave Rattle Snake, isn't he there?

Oh, tigerlily, what a frightening story! I have never had my hand next to one, or heard the rattle, or seen one coiled up and mad! I think I would pave the property, too! For some reason, mine wasn't mad. The dog practically walked on him, and he still wasn't mad.

I got a chuckle out of you covering the yard over in cement - because I can really relate to that.

So glad that you were not harmed!

Dang Scutler, you forgot the poison ivy, that should be a great selling point.

Seriously though, don't wait on animal control .. call the professional nusiance wildlife removal service in charleston 571-5556. Call them now .. they have 24 hour service. That's a dangerous critter!

X

Now, if I go out tomorrow with my weed wacker and start grinding down the weeds and groundcover, what will he do if he's nearby? Will he hear the sound and run or will I end up whacking him? I have this picture in my head of the string lifting him and flinging him. Ewww! But I REALLY need to use this weekend to get some work done out there! How about the mower? Will that send him packing? (not for good, but for long enough for me to get some work done)

When I lived in the country I shot a snake with my shot gun and another with my hand gun. Should I pack "heat" when I go into the garden? I think that's frowned on here but so is dying.

Yesterday when he was at the door, I was too busy trying to keep the puppy away from him to try to kill him. I did reach for the 10' pole pruner. I was going to try to reach over and cut him in half but he got away.

Thanks, X!! I tried a few numbers today (but not that one) and for some reason nobody answered anywhere. I will definitely call them ASAP. I might as well wait till dawn though, don't you think? It would be dangerous for them out there in the dark, knee deep in vinca, hostas, and ferns trying to find a pit viper. I'm not going back out there tonight. I'll take the dog out to the front lawn tonight. It's pretty safe there. The grass is neatly trimmed, only a few shrubs, and nothing for a snake to eat because the bird feeders are all in the back yard; so that's where the rats, birds, and snakes are. And trust me, it's a long way from the backyard to the front yard - I hate it when I have to walk around. What do you think?

Personally, I'd call them now and leave a message if they don't answer .. they are the professionals. The name of the company is A Wildlife Solutions .. look them up in the Yellow pages under Animal Control. They wouldn't say 24 hour service if they didn't mean it. Again, that's a dangerous critter!

X

Take snake charming lessons. Get a clarinet and go out on the circus tour! LOL

i didn't read all of the posts on this thread, but just in case anyone didn't tell you, this time of year, copperheads travel in pairs. it's something my mom taught me years ago and she was right. when we'd come across a copperhead (which yours is) in spring, she'd kill it and then tell me to watch myself in the barn for a couple of days 'cause the other one would show up and it always did.

Equil, I am all kinds of "brave" as long as I can stand 10' away behind the door. lol

Oh, thanks, tracks! So now even if I get someone to come and kill him I still have to walk on egg-shells. super!

Are there any snakes in Alaska?

Joseph, I can't even carry a tune! If I play the flute anything like I sing, the snake will bite me for sure.

aha! sound repellent! Eat triple garlic chowder! It will make you yodel LOUDER ROFL!!!!

Well, the one good thing about copperheads is that they are not aggressive. I've been told by the snake experts that you have to step on them or such before they bite. They are quite sluggish. So just wear metal garden gloves, and metal shoes with shin guards, and you should be OK. Watch where you step!
Remember how it didn't move when you were poking at it? Well, if that had been a western diamond-back rattler, it probably would have charged you. Or a cottomnouth. Both aggressive.
Nevertheless, I would with you - in the house!
LOL I remember how scared I was to go outside in the dark after I saw the skunk family eating on the ground at the birdfeeder. I heard a rustling in the bushes and that was that. No more night forays for this kid!

LILY,
Winter?? That is like living in the GREAT WHITE NORTH deep freezer, lol, eh?

Best Regards;
bluelytes

LOLOL that it is! On the plus side our winter takes care of any nasties ...... the only snake I'd be likely to find in my yard is a garter snake. And, so far, none of our spiders have a bite I'd worry about.

ROFLMBO I just read your Mr T saga! What's a little copperhead?

Edited to say that here I was responding to remarks above about SK.

Yes, but I bet there aren't any snakes there! I'm packing as I type.

I'm a Southern girl. I like to go barefoot. Can I go barefoot there? I don't actually own a coat. I have some suit jackets. I had a cashmere sweater but I never got to wear it. On the coldest day of winter, it made me sweat. Around here a fleece ruana is a plenty. Will that work there?

One problem I have here is if I leave anything in the car it either melts or explodes, even plastic. Do you have that problem in SK?

This message was edited May 27, 2006 12:15 AM

CJ, that's too funny! That little bird just harrassed the heck out of me!