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Outdoor topics => The Outdoor Board => Topic started by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 12:56:19 PM

Title: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 12:56:19 PM
 Yesterday I had the door open most of the day to let the house air out since it was nice weather. Last night I heard a strange sliding sound and then an occasional buzzing sound which I chalked up to be a couple brown beetles that had landed on the window screen.

I heard the noise again and went to investigate and found this fella in the house.  :o

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35112/IMG_20180514_114851~0.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1526316652)


He/or she was about a 5+ foot black rat snake that had came in the house for a visit. If it had went up into the attic and stayed there I wouldn't have minded, there is a mouse or two I've been trying to get rid of for the last couple months. But I don't like snakes loose in the living quarters  :D. I decided to escort it away from the house.

I'm just hoping it had gotten in while the door was open yesterday and maybe it won't get back inside :D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: nativewolf on May 14, 2018, 01:23:30 PM
The very best mouser bar none.  Still, don't really want animals in the living quarters that can't go outside to do their business.  

I am hoping one shows up in my detached garage some day soon.  Either need snakes or more poison.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: DPatton on May 14, 2018, 02:25:39 PM
NO THANKS!
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: luvmexfood on May 14, 2018, 05:19:15 PM
Bet the door stays shut. :laugh:
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: gspren on May 14, 2018, 05:35:59 PM
I like having them in the barn but not the house.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 06:05:07 PM
Quote from: gspren on May 14, 2018, 05:35:59 PM
I like having them in the barn but not the house.
Same here. I was just going to take this one out to the barn and let him go but I figure he knows about the house now so he'd probably be back to invite himself in again if given the opportunity. So I took him out a ways further and let him go ;)
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WV Sawmiller on May 14, 2018, 06:28:33 PM
   I sure wish I had him in my barn. Thanks for handling this one with the care it deserves.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 14, 2018, 08:37:02 PM
ROAD TRIP!
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 14, 2018, 09:29:41 PM
Had a king snake wander by me twice today while I was running flooring through the moulder.  He gets to live, but when the copper heads show up, well.....
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 10:58:11 PM
 Yea copperheads are a different story, I'm pretty careful about not getting bit but I mostly worry about someone else or one of the animals getting bit by one so I don't tolerate them anywhere close to the house or yard.

I killed a fair size copperhead in the driveway a few nights ago, it bit my Chihuahua/Beagle mix dog in the face near the right eye. She's already about back to normal though and as far as I can tell still has vision in that eye, it always amazes me how tough dogs are  :o.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 14, 2018, 11:07:11 PM
Yikes - glad to hear the doggie is OK.  I got one a couple years back that was 42" long and as big around as my forearm.  Skun that one, one day will make it into a hat band.  Most around here are no where that size. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 11:26:36 PM
Quote from: Southside logger on May 14, 2018, 11:07:11 PM
Yikes - glad to hear the doggie is OK.  I got one a couple years back that was 42" long and as big around as my forearm.  Skun that one, one day will make it into a hat band.  Most around here are no where that size.
That would be a big copperhead  :o. I've found one that was a little over 3' long and a few around 32"-34" but generally even those are considered big around here. Most I see are probably average 18"-28".
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: coalsmok on May 15, 2018, 11:21:22 AM
Friendly snakes get a pass, others .....well. I work a lot in remote areas with warm pipes and do night work at times so dangerous crawlers are encouraged to vacate the premises. 
Did have a rattler crawl out from under a piece of equipment we were disassembling and go between my knees and hands as I was kneeling down running a impact. The guy with me that day about yanked my shirt off my pulling me up.  I never even seen the snake til then.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: florida on May 15, 2018, 02:56:47 PM
My sister got bit on the ankle by a copperhead about year ago.  They ended up giving her 2 vials of antivenom at $30,000.00 a vial and she was a sick girl for a few days.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: luvmexfood on May 15, 2018, 05:03:24 PM
Quote from: coalsmok on May 15, 2018, 11:21:22 AM
Friendly snakes get a pass, others .....well. I work a lot in remote areas with warm pipes and do night work at times so dangerous crawlers are encouraged to vacate the premises.  
Did have a rattler crawl out from under a piece of equipment we were disassembling and go between my knees and hands as I was kneeling down running a impact. The guy with me that day about yanked my shirt off my pulling me up.  I never even seen the snake til then.

Pretty sure if that happened to me I wouldn't have need for a high fiber diet to keep things moving.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 15, 2018, 10:00:33 PM
Quote from: florida on May 15, 2018, 02:56:47 PM
My sister got bit on the ankle by a copperhead about year ago.  They ended up giving her 2 vials of antivenom at $30,000.00 a vial and she was a sick girl for a few days.
I bet that didn't feel too good. I used to pick up and handle copperheads but i've grown out of that phase and have decided I have no business chancing getting bit, especially with that price of antivenin  :o
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 15, 2018, 10:10:32 PM
 Speaking of copperheads, I found another in the back yard while weedeating. And no I didn't kill it by weedeating it, I hit a snake on accident with the weed whacker one time and learned not to do that  :D


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/35112/IMG_20180515_200441859.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1526436203)


 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Tin Horse on May 15, 2018, 10:27:18 PM
I thought the ticks are our worst fear but I don't think I could get used to those snakes. Glad it's to cold here. Thanks for the nightmares. :D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: LeeB on May 16, 2018, 03:21:01 AM
Quote from: Woodcutter_Mo on May 14, 2018, 06:05:07 PM
Quote from: gspren on May 14, 2018, 05:35:59 PM
I like having them in the barn but not the house.
Same here. I was just going to take this one out to the barn and let him go but I figure he knows about the house now so he'd probably be back to invite himself in again if given the opportunity. So I took him out a ways further and let him go ;)
I've taken them several miles away only to see them come back a day or two later. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Magicman on May 16, 2018, 08:50:21 AM
It's mate was probably still in the area.  You gotta move both of them.  smiley_love

I notice that @Jeff (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=1) has not made a reply in this topic?  smiley_headscratch   :D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Jeff on May 16, 2018, 09:14:10 AM
Okay, now that I'm here, do I lock it block it or throw it in the woodshed?
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Magicman on May 16, 2018, 09:18:06 AM
 :)  You made me smile.    :D  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 16, 2018, 09:46:06 AM
Quote from: Jeff on May 16, 2018, 09:14:10 AM
Okay, now that I'm here, do I lock it block it or throw it in the woodshed?
Just let it slide..... :D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: james on May 16, 2018, 12:19:28 PM
well, if you don"t want it back just ship it to jeff , he would be happy to take care of it for you
;D ;Djames
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: mike_belben on May 16, 2018, 02:14:12 PM
The ticks have been incredibly bad this year... Its like theyve mutated.  Used to be they stayed in moist areas out of the sun but ive seen so many new varieties to me just laying on a smoldering cinder block or scrap of metal lately.  I pull 5 to 20 per day off the family just around our yard.  


Snakes have been surprisingly absent for the most part.  Other than a black snake at the first warmup sunning in the woods ive only heard them take off, not seen any.   did get rid of a dozen mice so maybe that lowered the inccentive. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 16, 2018, 03:37:10 PM
 Ticks are awful in this area too this spring. There is no shortage of snakes that I can tell. I've had several run-ins with black snakes, a few copperheads, garter snakes and one speckled king snake so far. My boss has been having alot of black snakes trying to get in his house as well  :D. Maybe there are just alot of rodents around this year, I haven't noticed any more than usual though.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Magicman on May 17, 2018, 07:31:54 AM
Sneaky Snake (Tom T. Hall) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hPd5kSjV8I)
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: DelawhereJoe on May 17, 2018, 10:22:16 AM
Mr. MagicMan I haven't thought of that song since my Grandfather died back in 1991. He would play that song for all the grandkids when we would visit and we all loved it. Thank you for posting that.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 17, 2018, 10:53:19 AM
 I haven't heard that song since I was in kindergarten. Our teacher had that song on a cassette tape and played it for the class, all of us youngsters had fun with that song in kindergarten  :D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: reelman65 on May 17, 2018, 02:44:48 PM
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39303/20180517_122439~0.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1526582576)
 

wifey just heard the dog barking, came back in with the biggest rat snake i have seen in a while. It was more than 6'.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: mike_belben on May 17, 2018, 05:34:47 PM
Huge rattlesnake found in backyard of Middle Tennessee home - WATE (http://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/huge-rattlesnake-found-in-backyard-of-middle-tennessee-home/1184690373)


Think she could drag that one around?
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: reelman65 on May 17, 2018, 08:04:39 PM
Quote from: mike_belben on May 17, 2018, 05:34:47 PM
Huge rattlesnake found in backyard of Middle Tennessee home - WATE (http://www.wate.com/news/tennessee/huge-rattlesnake-found-in-backyard-of-middle-tennessee-home/1184690373)


Think she could drag that one around?
she would probably try, unfortunately
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: LeeB on May 18, 2018, 09:12:31 AM
Maybe it's just the perspective of the camera but something doesn't look right about that shot. Says the snake is 6.5 ft but in the shot the doubled up snake appears to be the same length as his shoulders to the ground. That would make him very short. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: DPatton on May 18, 2018, 08:22:48 PM
 :-\ I'm with Jeff on this one. You guys are making me wish I lived further north! Around my house we don't even use the S-WORD from April to November! And yes I too have nightmares about them DanG things!
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 18, 2018, 10:22:44 PM
Had a big black say hello yesterday when moving fencing for the cattle, was around 5' long.  Way out in a field so we each went our own ways. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 19, 2018, 07:05:26 AM
I have a big black rat snake at the mill.  He likes to hang out under the sawmill shed in the air drying stacks.  He can get testy. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: doctorb on May 19, 2018, 12:15:34 PM
Quote from: LeeB on May 18, 2018, 09:12:31 AM
Maybe it's just the perspective of the camera but something doesn't look right about that shot. Says the snake is 6.5 ft but in the shot the doubled up snake appears to be the same length as his shoulders to the ground. That would make him very short.
Lee-  It's the same technique we use to make our fish look bigger in photos.  Hold them closer to the camera.  I can't make out what instrument/tool/stick that guy is holding the snake with, but it's obviously extending the snake away from him and towards the camera, which gives the picture its distortion.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WV Sawmiller on May 19, 2018, 02:10:52 PM
   A 6.5' canebrake is a big rattler. I have seen a number of Eastern Diamondbacks that big or bigger but never a canebrake. The article makes it sound like he gave due consideration before killing it which I appreciate. 

   Yes, that photo technique is widely used to embellish the appearance of fish. Another technique is to always string the smallest fish up first and biggest last. Anybody seeing them will repeat the tale "He caught 35 crappie/catfish/bluegills/bass  and every one of them was at least this big."
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 19, 2018, 06:10:56 PM
 I found another fair size black snake in the yard, not quite as big as the other. He had'nt found the house yet so I put him out in the barn. Also seen a very large copperhead on a dirt road, wish I could have gotten a pic. He was way out in the middle of nowhere with no houses around so I don't figure he was hurting anything. I'd say he was pushing the 3' mark easily and very dark colored, probably getting ready to shed. He went off into the brush before I had a chance to look him over better. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 19, 2018, 08:55:01 PM
I also removed a small black rat snake from the yard today.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Magicman on May 19, 2018, 09:19:27 PM
I saw a good size Black Runner yesterday while mowing at the Cabin.  I did not remove it.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 19, 2018, 09:21:35 PM
My grandbabies, one 3 years old the other 1 old were coming for a visit today.  Better to remove the snake than deal with Grandma. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 19, 2018, 11:39:48 PM
WDH - Is your mill snake still there? I think he was the one in my pasture the other day. Usually those guys want nothing to do with people, but that one got a bit pushy, we had a few words.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 20, 2018, 07:25:38 PM
Oh yes.  Just a few minutes ago.  We had a polite conversation as I was gathering some stickers, but he had enough talk.  He slithered into stack of red oak slabs. 


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_2396.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1526858625)
 

You can see that he was all rumpled up.  He always had an attitude.  Apparently he was not in the mood for any parley. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: coxy on May 20, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
you guys are way to kind  :rifle: fudd-smiley
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WV Sawmiller on May 20, 2018, 10:15:19 PM
   I  ran into a small water snake (I assume - it had a red belly) snake day before yesterday while trimming the ditch in the back yard. I think I hit him a few licks with the string but not hard enough to seriously insure him. Plenty of insects, small frogs and tadpoles and such back there for him to feed on. If poison I'd have relocated or, in worse case, killed it but nearly all I see here are harmless water snakes and garter snakes. Sometimes the water snakes get in my minnow traps when I'm catching bait in the creek in the front yard. If alive I release them. If dead I may leave them for crawfish bait. Sometimes Sampson will bark at the garter snakes in the woodpile - never saw him catch one yet. I love him but he is not a very brave dog.

   My best little squirrel dog would sometimes tree one in the field in N. Fla. She had a different (fearful) bark and would be walking very gingerly in the grass putting one foot down at a time with her neck arched high looking carefully. 

   In Southern Africa one of the most popular dog breeds I saw was a Jack Russell Terrier. Largely because they chased and killed snakes and they had some really nasty snakes over there. (Some professional hunters also used a pack of them them to track wounded leopards. Evidently they were fast enough to avoid the cat while they would usually lose a hound or two when using big dogs.)
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 20, 2018, 10:51:44 PM
Quote from: coxy on May 20, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
you guys are way to kind  :rifle: fudd-smiley
Heck I'd even catch and kindly relocate the copperheads if I knew where to take them without putting someone else in danger  :D, it's hard to tell what else to do. The ones I've had to kill usually have several mice in them, I've got an appreciation for them but definitely have no intention of getting bit!  :o
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 21, 2018, 12:02:57 AM
Quote from: coxy on May 20, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
you guys are way to kind  :rifle: fudd-smiley
The black rat snakes eat lots of mice and other small rodents, so they are good to have around, unless they find the chicken coop - then they get lazy and start to gobble up eggs and even a chick now and then.  Mr. Nice to Nature goes away when that happens.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Dave Shepard on May 21, 2018, 02:18:40 PM
I saw four dead snakes in the road today. Normally I see about one snake every three years. I don't like them at all, but try to give them some room. 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 21, 2018, 10:30:06 PM
Quote from: Southside logger on May 21, 2018, 12:02:57 AM
Quote from: coxy on May 20, 2018, 08:49:01 PM
you guys are way to kind  :rifle: fudd-smiley
The black rat snakes eat lots of mice and other small rodents, so they are good to have around, unless they find the chicken coop - then they get lazy and start to gobble up eggs and even a chick now and then.  Mr. Nice to Nature goes away when that happens.  
I had a large black snake try to eat a couple of my hens, it couldn't swallow them whole and spit them back out but they still didn't make it. That's a pretty rare case though.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 22, 2018, 10:10:34 PM
Went to go collect eggs a few minutes ago when, HOLY #@$&!!! 


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/34297/KIMG1454.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1527041393)
 

Some glad I shone a flashlight in there first!!
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: caveman on May 24, 2018, 11:04:24 PM
My mother sent me a text and picture of a timber rattler today that she had a run in with.  She was vacuuming ladybugs up at their cabin near Ivy Log, Ga and went outside to dump the vacuum.  She heard the snake start to rattle when she was about two feet from it.  It had ten or 11 rattles and was coiled (locked and loaded) when she saw it.  It was a fat one about five feet long.  She is normally pretty easygoing when it comes to wildlife but she was wishing she had her 38 special with her today.

I am incredibly thankful that she avoided a bite.  She has had some significant health challenges over the last few years and this would have exacerbated her maladies significantly.  Strangely enough, I have not seen too many snakes around here yet this year - normally I see several a day.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Woodcutter_Mo on May 27, 2018, 12:16:16 PM
 I guess this explains why we've been seeing so many snakes lately

Naturalist says short spring may explain snake sightings in Missouri (http://www.ky3.com/content/news/Naturalist-says-short-spring-may-explain-snake-sightings-483775521.html)
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 27, 2018, 07:51:11 PM
I know a few Forum members here who will bite if harassed.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Texas Ranger on May 27, 2018, 08:40:29 PM
Hmm, I don't bite,  I nibble! ;D
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: caveman on May 29, 2018, 06:49:21 PM
A few pics of the snake that scared my mother last week.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/image~516.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1527631243)
 
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/image~517.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1527631244)
 
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: WDH on May 29, 2018, 07:46:23 PM
That scares me, too.
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Magicman on May 29, 2018, 08:16:04 PM
Oh my, that is a real nasty there.  :o
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Southside on May 29, 2018, 08:31:20 PM
There is a gentleman who keeps about a dozen bee hives on our farm, we get the pollination and a little honey and he gets access to our clover and alfalfa for his bee production, win, win.  Well Monday I was helping him move some equipment when a 3' copperhead came out from under a hive frame in the middle of a field.  He was a nasty one, stuck around and took a pretty offensive position rather than sce-daddle.  Fortunately for him I had not thrown my little .22 with pellet loads into my pocket, won't make that mistake again.  
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Texas Ranger on May 29, 2018, 08:51:47 PM
yep, dead snake
Title: Re: "Slithery" visitor...
Post by: Dave Shepard on May 29, 2018, 09:33:20 PM
A buddy of mine went to look at a building lot that had been abandoned. Well was in, driveway was in, nobody would build on it. He drove up there on his four-wheeler, parked look around and saw four giant rattlesnakes coiled up in a 20-foot circle of where he was parked. He put it in reverse, got out of there, and the property is still abandoned.