Ahh!! Copperheads!

Gingerbread

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The power company is going through our neighborhood burying all the power lines, which is a huge project and will take months. There is also a lot being cleared for a new house. Now, one of these things or both of them have caused several Copperhead sightings in the neighborhood :eek: I live in a small, older neighborhood with only a few dozen houses surrounded by a little bit of woods. I assumed these snakes would be tucked up in places or hiding in wood piles but several people have seen them chilling on their patios or driveways! I'm guessing maybe they like the heat from them? I don't know but it's freaking me out! One lady's cat was bitten a couple weeks ago and passed away :( I'm scared for my Frank! I think I'm going to have to start taking him out on a leash instead of just letting him go free into the yard. Snakes don't bother me too much, I've come across snakes in my garden but they were usually black or green snakes but venomous snakes! Heck no! I don't want to get bit and more than anything I don't want something to happen to my fur-baby! Does anyone have any suggestions or advice? I've never encountered a Copperhead before and right now my plan is leash walking the dog and bringing a shotgun!
 
It's probably a good idea to keep him on the leash for a few weeks until it gets too cool for snakes. Make noise when you're out walking, stamp your feet more, take a walking stick. Snakes don't want to encounter you so if they feel your vibrations they'll normally slither off and hide whilst you pass. You might just be having a bumper years for copperheads. I moved to Arizona a few years ago and really noticed that each year is different in terms of which species are doing really well. My first summer here there were whip-tailed lizards everywhere. I've only seen a handful since. This year seems to be amazing for dragon-flies. Really big ones!
 
I know a lot of hunting /wildlife clubs will have training you can take your dog to on how to properly react to snakes. I need to take my pup to one, because we've got lots of copperheads on our hiking trails in Texas, and I definitely DON'T want him thinking the snake is a cool rope toy. :p
 
Oh this is not good. Please be careful. I am not scared of snakes either but I have a healthy respect for them. Sometimes we have to leash walk Yuki due to the Great Horned Owls that show up in October. So, Leash him. You will never regret it.
 
Having been bit twice by copperheads (one dry bite, the other injected venom), lemme tell ya: You do NOT wanna get bit. The bite I received that the snake actually envenomated was the most ungodly painful things I have ever been through. It went on for DAYS. My leg swelled so much it looked like the skin was going to peel. Gads, it was bad.

So what do yo do to be safer? Eliminate any brush or debris piles. Make sure there are no rodents nearby. No food source, no snakes. Sprinkle sulphur liberally (available at feed or hardware stores). While snakes don't 'smell' it, it gets on their little tongues and they flee from the yuck. Be cautious sticking your hands into flowerbeds or woodpiles. Look along the sides of your house, snakes little to snuggle against them. And they love concrete for sunning, so sometimes the cheeky little buggers lie right out in the open.

If you see one you can generally safely take a shovel and slip them into a trashcan then call animal services. Or you can wreak bloody vengeance on them and take the shovel and cut off their tiny heads. Since the one bit me, I am meaner to them. REVENGE!

(Action Hank has been bit as well, but received no venom. They are THICK out here)
 
If only snake charmers really worked. Be careful out there. We have cotton mouths out here
 
Scary! I've come across poisonous snakes in the high desert, but I just stayed away. We never had anything nasty show up in the yard.
 
Also, I wouldn't recommend trying to kill the snakes. They're an important part of the ecology, and even if you don't get bit trying to kill it, it can still move for a few minutes after death and bite you.

Best practices are removing attractive places for snakes (brush piles, rock overhangs), keeping your eyes peeled and knowing how to identify them, and leaving the snakes alone. You can also call your local wildlife conservationists to safely relocate the snake.
 
Thanks for all the advice, so far no sightings in our yard. I keep everything pretty much picked up and tidy so not many hiding places but I do get nervous around the shed, not sure if something would be living under there. I'm still taking Frank out on his leash just to be safe. Hopefully it'll get colder soon and they'll go do whatever they do when it's chilly.
 
I used to have two pet snakes. I love them but for the wild ones I'll keep respectful distant.
When my dad killed a poor little rat snake I almost cried. They are not poisonous and all.
My parent just don't like snakes I cried when snake came into our house when I was little and my dad killed them.
 
Shouldn't you be able to have animal control come take a look. Or a rescue agency? Just so you can have some peace of mind.
 
@Tak , animal control or an animal rescue organization won't accept or relocate venomous wildlife - they're more focused on cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals. Best bet is the local department of fish and wildlife/wildlife conservation (they have so many different names!).
 
This little boy I was babysitting back in the 80's tried to scare me with snakes he would find down on the bayou. His mother let him run all over town at the age of 10. I was mainly there for the sister who was a baby at the time. He would stick those snakes right up in my face. I would smile at them and say, wow isn't he a beauty while trying to hold it together and not pass clean out. He never did it again because, he figured he didn't scare me...so what is the use. Man that was a tough one to get through. I don't mind snakes but, I don't want unfamiliar snakes in my face. Gotta fake it through stuff like that. Those kids will really never leave you alone if they get any idea they are bothering you. It was an easy fix and I was still a kid myself. So, I didn't even think to discuss with him how dangerous that could be.
 
This little boy I was babysitting back in the 80's tried to scare me with snakes he would find down on the bayou. His mother let him run all over town at the age of 10. I was mainly there for the sister who was a baby at the time. He would stick those snakes right up in my face. I would smile at them and say, wow isn't he a beauty while trying to hold it together and not pass clean out. He never did it again because, he figured he didn't scare me...so what is the use. Man that was a tough one to get through. I don't mind snakes but, I don't want unfamiliar snakes in my face. Gotta fake it through stuff like that. Those kids will really never leave you alone if they get any idea they are bothering you. It was an easy fix and I was still a kid myself. So, I didn't even think to discuss with him how dangerous that could be.


Snakes! Why did it hafta be snakes?
 
I took naps with my snake Jack he also like to sit on my head. I will stick with non poisonous snakes.
 
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