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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: WDH on June 04, 2016, 08:23:59 PM

Title: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on June 04, 2016, 08:23:59 PM
It is official.  I now have a sawmill snake.  A black rat snake.  He has been here for the last two days.  He is a little surly if you get close to him, but, he is welcome if he deals with the rats and mice that nest in the air drying stacks.  Just don't agitate him.  If you mess with him, he will try to bite you, otherwise, he just minds his own business.

Here he is under the board table.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1423.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465086087)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1424.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465086136)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: tnaz on June 04, 2016, 08:28:16 PM
If you give him something cool to drink he may be more Friendly??? :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on June 04, 2016, 09:12:52 PM
He surprised me when I was stacking boards on the table and I did not see that he was under there.  He is harmless, although a bite would be painful.  However, there are some of his poisonous brethren around these parts that will not be welcome. 
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Sixacresand on June 04, 2016, 09:54:50 PM
Quote from: WDH on June 04, 2016, 09:12:52 PM
He surprised me when I was stacking boards on the table and I did not see that he was under there.  He is harmless, although a bite would be painful.  However, there are some of his poisonous brethren around these parts that will not be welcome.
I think the word "surprised" is light weight for my usual reaction to snakes, poisonous or not.  They can be a catalyst for the laxative you might be taking. :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: customsawyer on June 04, 2016, 09:57:39 PM
You need to scratch him behind the ears and under the chin.  ;D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: ozarkgem on June 04, 2016, 10:09:58 PM
I always leave them alone(unless there in the chicken house). They are good mouse traps.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: YellowHammer on June 04, 2016, 10:30:05 PM
Well, I can say I was glad the pictures clarified things; my first impression was the topic might be X rated.   :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on June 04, 2016, 10:46:17 PM
Powder Post Snake
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Brad_bb on June 04, 2016, 11:42:27 PM
Maybe he wants some grits?

What type of snake is it?
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: red on June 05, 2016, 05:46:46 AM
Always new you were a Charmer
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: xlogger on June 05, 2016, 06:25:49 AM
Don't know if its true but some say that a black snake will keep copperheads away. We have too many copperheads here.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Savannahdan on June 05, 2016, 06:45:01 AM
I was watching the Tony Mills show the other evening and it covered the black rat snake.  It eats other snakes including rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths as well as a host of other things.   It kills the other snakes by getting their heads in its mouth sideways and cuts off their air.  Then it swallows them.  Here's a link to the Tony Mills site:

http://coastalkingdom.com/
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: kelLOGg on June 05, 2016, 06:59:44 AM
Someone must have rung the dinner bell for black snakes. Within an hour I found one in the barn and one on the sawmill. They are good to have around until they surprise me.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: sandsawmill14 on June 05, 2016, 08:08:04 AM
i had one thursday morning under the lumber stack by the mill  :) i am pretty sure it was a rat snake like wdh's snake but he must have not liked me moving the stack of lumber he was the most aggressive snake i ever encountered  :o i couldnt chase him off and if you were anywhere close he would start striking at you  :o my 2 nephews were offbearing for me (12 and 14 years old) so the snake lost his head due to bad behavior :-\ i generally leave them alone unless poisonous but he wouldnt leave us alone :)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Chuck White on June 05, 2016, 08:41:26 AM
I get along with most of the local snakes here, although I do get surprised once in a while!

The only one that I won't tolerate is the Milk Snake!   :rifle:
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishfighter on June 05, 2016, 09:16:41 AM
Yep, had one too that surprised the heck out of me when I open the blade guards. He wasn't fast enough to get away from my little pup that killed him in a second.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38788/IMG_0735.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1461583979)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 05, 2016, 09:23:10 AM
   I wish he were living in my barn. I need a good mouser. Coons kill the cats we have had there. Saw a big one in the road last week but wifey did not like the proposal to bring him home.

   I found and caught a 6" long ring neck snake Friday and tried to get my granddaughter to hold him but she put on the terrified act. I want them to know all snakes are not bad or dangerous and just be careful to know the difference.

   One of the most popular dogs we saw while vacationing in Southern Africa (S. Africa, Namibia & Botswana) several years ago was the Jack Russell terrier. Evidently they are real good at catching snakes and with some of the nasty snakes they have over there a good snake catcher is worth his weight in dog biscuits.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 05, 2016, 11:18:46 AM
About the only snake I see around here is the garter, and I haven't seen one in years. I saw a big black snake when I was a kid. There are rattle snakes, but they don't usually make it as far as our farm from the mountain where they live. I really don't like snakes.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: 4x4American on June 05, 2016, 12:43:45 PM

WDH maybe if you gave him some purple drank he might be more neighborly?   :D

Good to know about the black rat snakes eating rattlers...my neighbor was over the other day at the sawmill and said he wouldn't be surprised if the rattlers use my lumber stacks to squeeze between to shed their skin.  Said he found a rattler skin up in the rafters of his barn last year.  Said there's timber rattlers and diamondbacks around and he's seen em as long as 5'...I don't mind them as long as they don't mind me.

Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kbeitz on June 05, 2016, 04:18:37 PM
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on June 05, 2016, 09:23:10 AM
   I wish he were living in my barn. I need a good mouser. Coons kill the cats we have had there. Saw a big one in the road last week but wifey did not like the proposal to bring him home.

   I found and caught a 6" long ring neck snake Friday and tried to get my granddaughter to hold him but she put on the terrified act. I want them to know all snakes are not bad or dangerous and just be careful to know the difference.

   One of the most popular dogs we saw while vacationing in Southern Africa (S. Africa, Namibia & Botswana) several years ago was the Jack Russell terrier. Evidently they are real good at catching snakes and with some of the nasty snakes they have over there a good snake catcher is worth his weight in dog biscuits.

Did someone say snake ???

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Try_me.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1446591069)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on June 05, 2016, 05:24:12 PM
This sawmill snake decided to hide inside of a log cavity.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_0611.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1463015163)
That might have been OK except we sawed the log.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: scully on June 05, 2016, 10:46:52 PM
I can go either way with snakes usually I go out of my mind when they suprize me...
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: 5quarter on June 06, 2016, 12:13:22 AM
We have plenty of rat snakes around here...They are the most tolerant snake that I can think of. as long as I'm gentle, They will usually let me pick them up and move them somewhere else. once I did encounter a big female getting ready to lay her eggs and she was not happy about being moved up the road.  ;) :) we have red striped garters around here that are much nastier and usually wind up meeting the business end of a shovel...or the heel of my boot.  :snowball: smiley_skull
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Trapper John on June 06, 2016, 02:21:20 AM
There are some snakes in South East Alaska but none in the interior.  I used to keep garters and milk snakes in my bedroom back in New York but my mom was not very happy about it.  Not to change the subject but I was wondering WV Sawmiller, how do coon kill cats?
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on June 06, 2016, 07:27:56 AM
I found this gentleman yesterday evening.  A king snake.  One of the good ones.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1432.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465212422)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: sandsawmill14 on June 06, 2016, 07:52:45 AM
i was building a building several years ago had been working on it about 3 days and was hanging the floor joist and killed a pretty big snake solid charcoal grey with the belly just a little lighter grey then i killed 2 more in the next 15 min all were over 4' long  :o i  had never seen a snake like those so i calld dad to come look at them to see if he knew what they were and threw them over the pasture fence and went on working till he got there, i had already checked and they had no fangs so werent poisonous  :)  when he got there there was a HUGE king snake eating the ones i had killed he had already eaten one and the 2nd one was about 1/2 in and 1/2 out of the king snake  :o i got over the fence and threw the last one back over so dad could get a better look and he had never seen one like them either so i threw him back over where the king snake was and i suppose he ate it too but i didnt stay to watch :) that king snake was over 6' long and about the size of my wrist  :o still the biggest snake i ever seen outside of a zoo i gave some serious thought to moving :D :D :D but i decided me and the snakes could probably work it out :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: sandsawmill14 on June 06, 2016, 07:55:45 AM
mm what kind of snake is that in your pic ???
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 06, 2016, 09:17:21 PM
Quote from: Trapper John on June 06, 2016, 02:21:20 AM
Not to change the subject but I was wondering WV Sawmiller, how do coon kill cats?

   Like a fox killing a squirrel. Grab hold, shake and bite until they get him killed. Obviously the bigger the cat the harder time they have of it. My granddaughters and DIL are still traumatized from watching a big coon come up on their front porch a few years ago and killing Snowball, their young white kitten. Son started trapping and DIL made sure son gave her updated shooting lessons. If he's already got the cat probably too late for getting her gun out of the safe but may be able to prevent him from coming back.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: red on June 06, 2016, 09:28:08 PM
Danny its better when you find these snakes , instead of them finding you .
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: red on June 06, 2016, 10:01:31 PM
The Island of Guam has a very serious Brown Tree snake problem . This tree snake can be killed by one tylenol pill. So to get the snake to eat the pill . We drop  dead mice baited with tylenol and put parachutes on them to get them into the tree tops.  This does not work on all snakes . We brought the brown tree snake to Guam and it has no natural enemy.  If we dont stop the brown snake on Guam it will take over on other islands.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: killamplanes on June 06, 2016, 10:34:28 PM
that's a mean lookin dog :o
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishfighter on June 07, 2016, 05:30:44 AM
My snake killer?



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38788/IMG_0596.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1453483539)

He is a hunter of anything that moves. Boykin/lab mix. He even duck hunts. :D Bad thing is that he is always under my feet.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on June 07, 2016, 06:55:34 AM
Quote from: sandsawmill14 on June 06, 2016, 07:55:45 AM
mm what kind of snake is that in your pic ???
Some kind of garter snake and certainly not poisonous.  It just found the wrong place to hide.   :-\
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: dboyt on June 07, 2016, 08:33:31 AM
My sawmill snake.  If you have to ask what kind it is, you probably shouldn't be working around the mill.  I generally live and let live, but will re-locate them if they are around the house.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12837/sCprhd_01s.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1441894504)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Raider Bill on June 07, 2016, 08:44:27 AM
I had a rat snake come in the doggy door which is right next to the laundry room. There happens to be a  toilet there.

As luck will have it Sue Ann was sitting on the hopper when the snake came in and headed her way. Quite a scream I must say as it went around behind the toilet.. :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

Pretty amazing how high her feet were while her butt was still attached to the seat. ;D ;D

Reminded me of yoga  :D :D :D :D :D :D

At the Tenn house my friend 2 Tanks and I were hooking up the 3pt backhoe when a copper head slithered  between our legs and down into a hole under the back hoe attachment. 2 Tanks jumped, hit one of the control levers and cut off part of his middle finger.

Like a idiot he thought I was going to stick my hand down that hole and get his finger so they could sew it back on. I told him you better get used to picking your nose with another finger. ;)

Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishpharmer on June 07, 2016, 05:30:59 PM
 :D :D ;D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishfighter on June 07, 2016, 07:06:41 PM
Quote from: dboyt on June 07, 2016, 08:33:31 AM
My sawmill snake.  If you have to ask what kind it is, you probably shouldn't be working around the mill.  I generally live and let live, but will re-locate them if they are around the house.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12837/sCprhd_01s.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1441894504)

Sorry, but I will go out my way to kill that sucker. That thing has nothing but hurt all over it.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Texas Ranger on June 07, 2016, 07:13:05 PM
Quote from: dboyt on June 07, 2016, 08:33:31 AM
My sawmill snake.  If you have to ask what kind it is, you probably shouldn't be working around the mill.  I generally live and let live, but will re-locate them if they are around the house.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12837/sCprhd_01s.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1441894504)

There would be bullet holes over a square foot of territory
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Ljohnsaw on June 07, 2016, 07:17:50 PM
Quote from: WDH on June 06, 2016, 07:27:56 AM
I found this gentleman yesterday evening.  A king snake.  One of the good ones.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1432.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465212422)

Interesting, out here, the king snakes are white with a little bit of black stripes.  Years ago a BIG one must have been warming himself after dark in the road and he got run over  :(  Last year, I saw one in my driveway coming out from under a bush.  I ran up to grab him and he went back in the bush.  When I was poking around, he coiled up a little and started shaking his tail in the dry leaves, imitating a rattle snake.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on June 07, 2016, 10:37:38 PM
I certainly don't have to ask what kind it is Dave. 
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Percy on June 08, 2016, 12:32:24 AM
Instead of a watch dog, you guys have watch snakes to guard your mills  ;D


BEWARE OF SNAKES
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: hopm on June 08, 2016, 12:51:52 AM
Use to catch every black snake I could and bring them to the house. Had a decent population. Then my Dad started raising fiest and took great entertainment from watching that pack of fiest on a snake. Snake population has gone down quickly.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: PC-Urban-Sawyer on June 08, 2016, 10:04:43 AM
Quote from: hopm on June 08, 2016, 12:51:52 AM
Use to catch every black snake I could and bring them to the house. Had a decent population. Then my Dad started raising fiest and took great entertainment from watching that pack of fiest on a snake. Snake population has gone down quickly.

What is fiest?

Herb
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: elk42 on June 08, 2016, 10:56:26 AM
IT is a mix breed small dog for squirrel hunting
http://www.mullinsfeist.com/
http://www.dogbreedplus.com/dog_breeds/mountain_feist.php
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: PC-Urban-Sawyer on June 08, 2016, 12:33:05 PM
Quote from: elk42 on June 08, 2016, 10:56:26 AM
IT is a mix breed small dog for squirrel hunting
http://www.mullinsfeist.com/
http://www.dogbreedplus.com/dog_breeds/mountain_feist.php

Thanks, I couldn't find anything with the spelling you used initially.

Herb
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishfighter on June 08, 2016, 07:03:45 PM
Two more bit the dust today. DanG dog. Two garden snakes. >:(
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: longtime lurker on June 08, 2016, 10:26:46 PM
 In 'straya... we've got I think 11 of the worlds 20 deadliest snakes... and 9 of the first 10 or something like that. So ya gotta think twice about any snake being about. Of course... some of the harmless guys can eat your ass whole...



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32746/amethestine_python.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465438839)

Thats an amethestine python, we got one a bit smaller then that guy here we see maybe once every 6 months or so crossing the road, he'll have his head dissapeared into the trees on one side and his tail still coming out of the other, about as thick as your thigh.

Secret with them is to jsut leave them be... and kick them out of the house before they get that big because you dont want one of them doing this:



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32746/IMG_0494.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465438783)

Beside the home office credenza at night.
(Do we have an "I think I just $**t myself" icon???)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 09, 2016, 07:50:50 AM
That first picture.....  :o :o :o
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on June 09, 2016, 08:06:52 AM
At least the first picture is on the outside.   :o
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 09, 2016, 08:10:30 AM
I like living in a climate with winter. :)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 09, 2016, 09:32:37 AM
Quote from: Dave Shepard on June 09, 2016, 08:10:30 AM
I like living in a climate with winter. :)

   Yeah but we don't have to contend with angry wolverines and rutting moose attacking people. :D :D :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 09, 2016, 10:33:16 AM
No wolverines, and few moose, rutting, or otherwise.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on June 09, 2016, 04:23:35 PM
I would take a few recalcitrant moose over our snakes  :). 
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Raider Bill on June 09, 2016, 04:48:00 PM
My dog was doing battle with this 4 ft Rat Snake today. She's only 12 lbs

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14445/20160609_105816.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1465505226)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Nomad on June 09, 2016, 06:30:42 PM
     Looks like the dog won. :)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kbeitz on June 09, 2016, 08:12:40 PM
One of my buddies...



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/North_American_Banded_Water_snake~1.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465517233)

Another...



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Racer_5~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465517452)

Last...



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/IMGP0052.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1465517515)

Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kbeitz on June 15, 2016, 08:25:20 PM
Sunday my neighbor ask me to remove two snakes out of his house.
Trying to catch the second snake with one hand full was fun.
I had one in my hand and grabbed the tail of the second one.
I knew if I left it get out of sight I probably would no find it again and
the neighbors would have to find another place to sleep.
But I got them both.
Well tonight my sister call and said she had a snake in her bathroom.
By the time I got to here home the snake was hidden.
My sister was petrified. She said I could not go home until I found the snake.
She closed the bathroom door but there was a 1" gap under the door.
I looked for around one hour through out the house. I found it in the
bathroom inside the electric heater. I don't think she will sleep tonight.

All 3 snakes was black snakes. No harm done. Moved them to a new spot.

Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: peterpaul on June 19, 2016, 08:05:56 AM
Quote from: Dave Shepard on June 09, 2016, 08:10:30 AM
I like living in a climate with winter. :)

Dave, all these pictures were taken in MA, in Mt. Washington State Forest, not far from us as the crow flies.  They are not aggressive at all.  I saw 4 in one day. 

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=207672#top_display_media

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=207670#top_display_media

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=207671#top_display_media
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 19, 2016, 08:41:00 AM
   In my increasing geriatric state I have become more tolerant of snakes than as a child in N. Fla where they were plentiful and often dangerous. I leave non-poisonous snakes alone. If I had a poisonous one show up around my place I'd either kill it if it represented a threat or relocate it if I could safely do so. There are lots worse things to contend with than snakes in today's world.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 19, 2016, 10:31:13 AM
We used to do some custom plowing and planting in Egremont not far from Mt. Washington. I never saw any rattlers, but my father did. He said he would do a hand stand on top of the muffler if he had to to get away from them. :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Alligator on June 20, 2016, 05:08:55 PM
They grow pretty big in south Alabama.
That's real Rattle Snake and he will bite you.
A friend of mine killed him about a month ago.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36609/Rattler.jpg)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Raider Bill on June 20, 2016, 05:22:03 PM
Is that a Fat Tire?
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 20, 2016, 06:05:00 PM
 smiley_horserider in the other direction!
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: fishfighter on June 20, 2016, 06:10:23 PM
Was frogging last night and ran across one big moccasin feeding on a big frog. >:( Tried my damest to get the snake to let go. Didn't happen, glocked that sucker. :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: elk42 on June 20, 2016, 06:58:40 PM
  Good for you Fishfighter I dislike pit vipers also. I relocate all of them like you did.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: longtime lurker on June 23, 2016, 01:25:11 AM
... and in the local paper from a woman living pretty much just up the road....

http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/national/queensland-woman-aint-even-scared-of-the-5metre-python-found-in-bedroom/news-story/f23d31f0549e0180bc5ca933b7b1863d

When you got one of these you dont have to worry about rats.
Cats.
Dogs.
Small children.

So long as they didnt let him go close to my place :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Ianab on June 23, 2016, 02:35:48 AM
 :D

Yeah, "Monty" made the news here too.

The lady knew she had a python living in the ceiling for the last 15 years, but had never seen the whole snake, and it had never come inside before, so she had ignored it.

Then opens up the spare bedroom and there's a snake draped AROUND the room.  :o

I'm guessing she had no cats or small dogs, well not any more...

It also turn out NZ does have snakes after all. These guys have been washing up on the local beaches
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/81123188/a-third-yellowbellied-sea-snake-has-washed-up-in-taranaki
Luckily they can't live long term in the cold water.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 23, 2016, 12:05:22 PM
You guys are doing very little to support Southern hemisphere tourism. :)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: longtime lurker on June 23, 2016, 06:58:31 PM
Quote from: Dave Shepard on June 23, 2016, 12:05:22 PM
You guys are doing very little to support Southern hemisphere tourism. :)

Awww c'mon Dave, where's your sense of adventure?

I'm at South Mission Beach and it's a beautiful winters day



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/32746/image.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1466722071)

The snake is at North Mission, it's a whole 5 miles away.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Dave Shepard on June 23, 2016, 07:09:50 PM
Well, four miles, 5,264' anyway. :)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Timster on June 24, 2016, 07:52:44 PM
Had a snake visitor today slithering in my sawdust, not quite as big as some of the others  :D

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42702/IMG_13995B15D.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466812236)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on June 24, 2016, 08:25:23 PM
That Ringneck Snake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-necked_snake) is a cutie.  The closest relative to it that I have ever seen is a Mud Snake (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_snake), and I do not recall ever seeing but one of them.  It too has a hard tail and is sometimes called a Stinging Snake.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kbeitz on June 24, 2016, 08:34:25 PM
Think I found his twin.




 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Racer_1~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466814854)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: tnaz on June 24, 2016, 08:53:16 PM
They're so small.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 25, 2016, 01:38:41 PM
   Well, I see I have one too or at least a lumber shed snake. Went out there with a customer this morning and spotted about a 2' garter snake resting on a board about a foot off the ground. I guess with all the rain and thunder and such lately he was enjoying our patches of sunlight. I pointed him out to the customers and my grandkids and everybody left him alone. They will startle you but no harm. I've probably got a bunch more under the bottom of my lumber piles I may find the next time I restack any.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: OneWithWood on June 25, 2016, 03:08:47 PM
Found this beauty walking through the woods to my barn.  He was out catching some rays and when I approached instead of zipping away he just contorted himself to look like he was dead.  When I was heading back he was nowhere in sight.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/IMG_0894.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466881402)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10273/IMG_0893.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466881814)

We always called these black or blue racers.  For scale the road is 12' wide.  :o
Great snakes to have around and totally harmless.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on June 25, 2016, 03:21:02 PM
1ww,

   Thanks for the scale info. Means that was a pretty good sized snake. I'm impressed.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on June 25, 2016, 05:57:18 PM
You are now One With Snakes. :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on April 25, 2017, 08:33:30 PM
My Sawmill Snake is back.  He can have quite the attitude.  Today, I just talked with him and he laid there and listened.  He did not have much to say.  He eventually slithered over and went under the kiln.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1849.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1493166128)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: YellowHammer on April 25, 2017, 10:35:37 PM
Just don't let him go in the kiln.  They definately loose their attitude.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21488/image~21.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1383625765)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Deese on April 26, 2017, 12:17:13 AM
YH, I talked to NYLE and they said that you can actually set the "pit" on those rascals and eat them.

(For all legal purposes and effects, this statement is for FF entertainment purposes only, and would not consider consuming KD snake unless cooked in a solar kiln).
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on April 26, 2017, 07:57:57 AM
My dehumidification kiln would cook them well done.  If you want medium rare, you need a solar kiln  ;D.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on April 26, 2017, 08:10:19 AM
Snake jerky!   :)

Looked like a King snake and a Corn (Chicken) snake.   ???
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Deese on April 26, 2017, 09:23:38 AM
Quote from: WDH on April 26, 2017, 07:57:57 AM
My dehumidification kiln would cooked them well done.  If you want medium rare, you need a solar kiln  ;D.
But you've got to let the meat relax  (tenderize) overnight and sizzle during the day.  :D
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: SineWave on April 26, 2017, 11:26:19 PM
Quote from: dboyt on June 07, 2016, 08:33:31 AM
My sawmill Copperhead. (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12837/sCprhd_01s.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1441894504)

That's what the good Lord made sticks for.

(https://misfit120.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bc.gif)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Brad_bb on April 27, 2017, 07:16:49 AM
Man I just barely missed a Prairie King Snake on the road in front of my farm yesterday with my truck and trailer.  He wasn't crossing very fast and I saw him last minute, I swerved to get him right under the center of my truck and trailer and I'm pretty sure no tire got him.  I like non-venomous snakes.  I don't see snakes often but I welcome them to come eat all the darn mice!!
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: YellowHammer on April 27, 2017, 07:29:54 AM
Quote from: Deese on April 26, 2017, 09:23:38 AM
Quote from: WDH on April 26, 2017, 07:57:57 AM
My dehumidification kiln would cooked them well done.  If you want medium rare, you need a solar kiln  ;D.
But you've got to let the meat relax  (tenderize) overnight and sizzle during the day.  :D

Worst part about it was that is was still tender and warm when I picked him up with a couple sticks under the body, and he literally just fell apart, sloughed into several pieces, dripped onto the kiln floor and semi splattered like a smelly, nasty, bloody water balloon.  That's when I learned that cooked snake guts stink....bad....
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: sandsawmill14 on April 27, 2017, 08:20:17 AM
Quote from: Kbeitz on June 24, 2016, 08:34:25 PM
Think I found his twin.




 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Racer_1~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466814854)
we used to find 6-8 of those every summer in dads kitchen cabinet :o talk about a wake up call at 5 am when you went to make coffee and one was there on the coffee can :o :D :D :D havent seen any in few years now though :-\
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Deese on April 27, 2017, 10:49:27 AM
Quotesplattered like a smelly, nasty, bloody water balloon

Thanks so much for the description. Yummy.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on April 27, 2017, 10:04:59 PM
I have eaten rattlesnake, but never a black chicken snake.  I am sure that they do NOT taste like chicken. 
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Magicman on April 27, 2017, 10:58:44 PM
For some reason, a dead snake puts off a horrible smell. :o   :-\
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kwill on April 28, 2017, 02:20:13 PM
I hate snakes, kill everyone i see. This one i walked up on while mushroom hunting. He suffered from some severe head trauma from a 5 iron.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/42883/17759894_10155152642069557_6291188706718727724_n.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1493403409)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on April 28, 2017, 03:05:19 PM
I let them live.  The only ones that I kill are the poisonous ones that are in the yard or by the house.  They are mostly just trying to make a living. 
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: grouch on April 28, 2017, 03:34:01 PM
I'm jealous. I only have a garage snake. How many blades do I have to go through to get a sawmill snake?

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/snake-4426.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1493407897)
(About 6 ft long. Base of jackstands = 7.5 inches).
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on April 28, 2017, 04:25:44 PM
Lynn,

   They don't have to just be dead to stink. Many of them stink when agitated. My wife says they smell like cucumbers to her.

   I have killed way ore than my share as a kid but I don't kill them any more unless they are a threat to people or pets. Water snakes get in my minnow traps in the creek in the front yard to steal my bait but I don't blame them for just trying to make a living. If still alive when I find them I free them. If they have already drowned I leave them in for crawfish bait.

   I'd love to have several rat snakes in my barn and any I come across are going to be relocated there.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WDH on April 28, 2017, 04:36:17 PM
As we age, we take less motivation in killing things.  Like said in the Lion
King, it is All A Big Circle.  The Circle of Life.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: WV Sawmiller on April 28, 2017, 04:41:35 PM
Danny,

   You are so right. I have let bears, foxes, bobcats, groundhogs, etc just pass on by while I was hunting here on our place. I'm not going to eat them, don't need the hides and they aren't a threat to me or anything I own so I just enjoy watching them come by.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Darrel on April 28, 2017, 06:10:54 PM
When I was about 14 or so I went with my parents I'm not sure where and the people there had rattle snake cooking in the fire. They tried to get me to eat some claiming that it tasted like chicken. So I just ate the chicken and claimed that I had already had some. I don't think they believed me but I didn't believe them either.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Kbeitz on April 28, 2017, 06:27:21 PM
Taste more fishy to me...
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: YellowHammer on April 28, 2017, 10:57:51 PM
Surprisingly, even though we are in the middle of snake country, we have very few snakes around.  Our cows and donkeys pretty much stomp every snake they see into the ground.  I guess that from their point of view, reaching down to take a bite of grass and seeing a snake in your breakfast will cause you to clean house.

Unfortunately, this means we have tons of mice.  For example, as I worked under the hood of Old Smokey, my ancient dump truck, a couple days ago, there were mice running all through the hood ribs.  I was able to get one in a picture.  Of course, as soon as I slammed the hood and fired it up, the smoke drove them into the cab where I was trying to drive with them scurrying around my feet.  Fun was had by all...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/21488/IMG_0101.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1493434141)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: Deese on April 28, 2017, 11:37:09 PM
We have a quail/pheasant farm. Lots of critters around here. Tens of thousands of chirping baby chicks ring the dinner bell.
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: grouch on April 29, 2017, 07:41:37 AM
Mice ruin wiring in vehicles and buildings, carry diseases and fleas, make nests that damage machinery and their urine is corrosive. Snakes eat mice. Any non-poisonous snake is welcome here. Well, except for ones I find raiding my ducks' nests.

Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: YellowHammer on April 29, 2017, 10:12:14 PM
Non posionous snakes are always welcome to hang out and eat mice.   8)
Title: Re: I have a Sawmill Snake
Post by: kensfarm on April 30, 2017, 11:27:29 PM
Quote from: Kwill on April 28, 2017, 02:20:13 PM
This one i walked up on while mushroom hunting.

Kwill.. how come your snake don't know he can slide under the fence instead of climbing over it?