... I'm a snake lover. Unless you are attacking a
> snake or near it's nest (or you are hiking and not watching your step) they
> will leave you alone, even under your house. It's a good idea to keep rattle
> snakes away from personal space because you will automatically provoke them
> by trying to get them to leave the area. But they are NOT faster than you
> when it comes to killing them first so don't worry. Usually a tap with a
> stick will get them moving on. or a bee bee gun...Please don't kill snakes.
> They are extrememly beneficial creatures.
Hello Bia:
I, too, am an all-creature and thus snake lover. I am especially fond of
black snakes. They used to live in my garden when I was raising herbs in car
tires. They would lift their heads about 8 inches up and watch me work.
But snakes, while mostly not aggressive, will not always be aware of your
presence. Thus, I once found myself standing squarely on a big black snake
in our yard. She did not bite me even though the could have and that would
have hurt even though they are on poisonous.
But copperheads are aggressive and will strike if you come into striking
distance and that can be very dangerous because you may not be aware of
them. And they are posonous. So if I request a copperhead to leave and it
doesn't I will actually kill it. Other snakes that will refuse to leave when
requested are rat snakes. They are very big. We had two brown thrasher nests
in our big quince bush in front of the house. We grew aware of the big
racket they were making and found a big rat snake stealing their eggs. I
turned the hose on full blast onto them but that did not bother them in the
least. They did not leave until they hat eaten every last one of the birds'
eggs.
So while I am not in favor of indiscriminate snake killing, if poisonous
snakes don't leave when requested, I will dispatch them.
Anneliese
