OMG There was a snake in my yard!

lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
wrknnwf said:
What kind of area do you live in? Suburban, wooded, grassy, etc. There are only two venomous snakes in your area, timber rattlesnake and copperhead, and they are somewhat different in the kind of terrain that they like to inhabit and their personalities.

Timber rattlers are shy and prefer wooded areas where they can stay hidden in the leaves and tangles on the floor, and they usually have to be provoked to strike. Copperheads are more bold, will happily sun themselves in open places, and are much more likely to bite without provocation.

It's very unlikely that your snake was venomous, but learn to identify both of the venomous kind so you will know. They both have very striking patterns that you can ID with a pair of binoculars. Please remember that without snakes, you could have a worse problem. Rodents are much more likely to spread serious diseases, destroy property and inhabit your house.

Keep your yard mowed and picked up. No wood piles, no piles of leaves, no rubble, no outdoor dog water bowls or kiddie pools, no loaded trash barrels that might attract mice, and keep your shrubberies trimmed and free of debris (like fallen leaves or trimmings). If you have a fish pond, it may attract snakes on occasion. Snakes are adept at catching fish and like to sun on any rocks.

There is no way to completely deter snakes (ripping out your plants won't help at all since many species of snakes inhabit open grassy areas), but they won't hang around in areas where there isn't food or shelter for them.
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Oh. My. God. You have just described my yard sans rubble and loaded trash barrels and a fish pond. Does a fallen tree branch count as rubble? If it does, I am doomed. Did I mention my development is surrounded by a wildlife preserve/park? Mice I don't worry about. I have 3 cats.
 
W

wrknnwf

Active member
I would pick up any fallen branches, yes. And piles of leaves. And move any fireplace wood piles away from the house. Living near a preserve enhances the chances of good habitat for snakes, and anything they would want to eat. There's a price for living in a preserve.
 
charlieinnj

charlieinnj

New member
lacey9875 said:
Oh. My. God. You have just described my yard sans rubble and loaded trash barrels and a fish pond. Does a fallen tree branch count as rubble? If it does, I am doomed. Did I mention my development is surrounded by a wildlife preserve/park? Mice I don't worry about. I have 3 cats.
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How long have you lived where you do? I'm in southern NJ and we likely have similar snake species like you do in Delaware. I'm actually IN what's considered the NJ Pine Barrens and we do have the timber rattlesnakes nearby but I've never seen them, or a copperhead. But, I've seen LOTS of other species of snakes. When we first moved to this area, they freaked me out, too. Then, I started encountering them and quickly saw that they are much more afraid of you than you should be of them. I know you don't like them but honestly, the best thing you can do is spend some time becoming familiar with them so if/when you do see them, you can know if they're dangerous or not. I've lived where I'm at for 13 years now and I've seen TONS of them....and the more I saw them, the less they bother me. In the spring/summer, I usually have to get them out of my in-ground pool and yes....now....I help them if they're in danger and I know the snake is harmless. They are one of God's creatures and they do serve a wonderful purpose.
 
hawk

hawk

New member
charlieinnj said:
How long have you lived where you do? I'm in southern NJ and we likely have similar snake species like you do in Delaware. I'm actually IN what's considered the NJ Pine Barrens and we do have the timber rattlesnakes nearby but I've never seen them, or a copperhead. But, I've seen LOTS of other species of snakes. When we first moved to this area, they freaked me out, too. Then, I started encountering them and quickly saw that they are much more afraid of you than you should be of them. I know you don't like them but honestly, the best thing you can do is spend some time becoming familiar with them so if/when you do see them, you can know if they're dangerous or not. I've lived where I'm at for 13 years now and I've seen TONS of them....and the more I saw them, the less they bother me. In the spring/summer, I usually have to get them out of my in-ground pool and yes....now....I help them if they're in danger and I know the snake is harmless. They are one of God's creatures and they do serve a wonderful purpose.
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Nice post!
 
Melissakins

Melissakins

New member
We live out of town in a neighborhood surrounded by ponds and brush. The house we live in was unoccupied for two years. We had rat snakes living under the house as was evident by the skins hubs found. One was hanging out in the azalea bush outside our bedroom door.

One night, I'd vacuumed and as I was coming back down the hall, saw electrical tape by the closet I was walking by. Then it moved LOL I ran into hubby's office and said get the tongs, there's a snake! Baby rat snake. Where it came from I don't know.

One morning later...there was a tiny snake curled up in a small pile of Bava's hair - keep me warm big furry dog! :) He was a red bellied water snake - tiny fella.

Whenever hubby yells for me to "come look at this", I bring oven mitts and tongs LOL
 
Melissakins

Melissakins

New member
Oh, one afternoon, hubs found another of the red bellied water snakes hanging from a hair off my car! Alive..we rescued him..Poor little guy.
 
DAWNMERIE

DAWNMERIE

Active member
ok...GOOD DAWN......MEET BAD DAWN (and I'm sure I'll hear it at OC, but I know you have a sense of humor)

I'm sorry I just can't resist this so please forgive me. I personally like nature outside but I kinda think on the lines of Charlie, all God's creatures and they all have a purpose. Here's a picture of a guy we ran into when we were out one day. I have no clue what type of snake, he was just sunning himself on the edge of the lake. We didn't bother him and he didn't bother us.

 
champagnebrkfst

champagnebrkfst

New member
charlieinnj said:
How long have you lived where you do? I'm in southern NJ and we likely have similar snake species like you do in Delaware. I'm actually IN what's considered the NJ Pine Barrens and we do have the timber rattlesnakes nearby but I've never seen them, or a copperhead. But, I've seen LOTS of other species of snakes. When we first moved to this area, they freaked me out, too. Then, I started encountering them and quickly saw that they are much more afraid of you than you should be of them. I know you don't like them but honestly, the best thing you can do is spend some time becoming familiar with them so if/when you do see them, you can know if they're dangerous or not. I've lived where I'm at for 13 years now and I've seen TONS of them....and the more I saw them, the less they bother me. In the spring/summer, I usually have to get them out of my in-ground pool and yes....now....I help them if they're in danger and I know the snake is harmless. They are one of God's creatures and they do serve a wonderful purpose.
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Very well said Charlie.
 
W

wrknnwf

Active member
YorkvilleNewfie said:
Looks like some kind of pit viper...wrknnwf, I bet you know what it is exactly!
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Boy, that's a tough one. I don't think it's venomous, but the photo doesn't offer a clear indication of any of the field marks that you could use to ID it. There appears to be some kind of pattern, but not enough of the snake is revealed to determine what it is, and I can't see the head and eyes or size well enough.

Cool photo though!
 
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charlieinnj

charlieinnj

New member
DAWNMERIE said:
ok...GOOD DAWN......MEET BAD DAWN (and I'm sure I'll hear it at OC, but I know you have a sense of humor)

I'm sorry I just can't resist this so please forgive me. I personally like nature outside but I kinda think on the lines of Charlie, all God's creatures and they all have a purpose. Here's a picture of a guy we ran into when we were out one day. I have no clue what type of snake, he was just sunning himself on the edge of the lake. We didn't bother him and he didn't bother us.
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Wow....got me stumped with that one, too. I've never encountered one that looked like that here in these parts of Joisey....:uhoh2: and I have to say I'm happy 'bout that, too. Hopefully, the pic makes him look bigger than he/she actually was.
 
DAWNMERIE

DAWNMERIE

Active member
If you guys want to guess I'll look to see if we have a better shot when I get home tonight. We kinda were leaning towards water moccasin.
 
Ocean's Edge

Ocean's Edge

New member
they might all be god's creatures, and they have my undying respect.... but I'm a bit phobic myself about some things myself (as is my daughter)- spiders, bugs. She loves the slithery things, me, I could do without them. Thing is 'desensitivation therapy' works for some, for others - like me, like my daughter - not so much.

Have to remember phobic fears are by their very nature irrational - so often the idea of getting to know the subject and how harmless it is, (especially if it's not completely harmless) won't always work, and requires more intensive psychotherapy.
 
lacey9875

lacey9875

New member
Ocean's Edge said:
they might all be god's creatures, and they have my undying respect.... but I'm a bit phobic myself about some things myself (as is my daughter)- spiders, bugs. She loves the slithery things, me, I could do without them. Thing is 'desensitivation therapy' works for some, for others - like me, like my daughter - not so much.

Have to remember phobic fears are by their very nature irrational - so often the idea of getting to know the subject and how harmless it is, (especially if it's not completely harmless) won't always work, and requires more intensive psychotherapy.
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HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, I am glad I went right to the last page!!! I have high blood pressure-are you trying to kill me!!???!! I have no desire to get over my completely irrational fear, and I'll be the first to admit it is completely irrational! I have lived in Delaware my entire life, and I've never, ever seen an S-word here. Something with no legs should not be able to move that fast! ( I don't even like when my cats hiss because of the sound!)

And by the way, major yard work going on this weekend. :whistling:
 
KodysGrandma

KodysGrandma

New member
Charlie's right, NJ way too cold for water moccasins. Incidentally they are a very nasty snake and will attack, unlike rattlers who prefer to run unless they feel cornered. Also known as Cottonmouths for the way the inside of their mouth looks. Also can bit underwater I am told. With a husband who grew up in the deep rural South I have heard all sorts of gastly moccasin stories that I will NOT pass on. Give you nightmares for weeks.
 
Lori

Lori

New member
Water moccasins are nasty! When I was younger we went to Louisiana to visit with my step-mother's family. We were out on the water in a little boat, I think it was a canoe. We were fishing. This snake comes around the side of the boat and up into it!! My sister and I (we were just kids) were screaming our heads off. My step-mother started beating it with her fishing pole and finally got it out of the boat! My father was on shore watching the whole thing. Needless to say, we got right back to dry land. I liked visiting there, but did not like having to watch every step I took!
 
NinaA

NinaA

New member
I'm sorry. If you live where there is land, grass, trees, shrubs, you have snakes. You just haven't noticed them. They are there all the time. They help keep down the rodent population, etc. Trying to get rid of it will only get that particular one to leave. In early America to keep snakes out of the log cabins they would strip the area around the cabin to bare dirt and throw their hot water waste - dishwater, laundry water, etc. out into the dirt to keep the grass from growing. You could do that and have dirt in a large area around your house. Or, you could move into a high rise. Otherwise . . .Embrace the snake.
 
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