I have a snake in my garden!!!!!

[Kelarie]

As I was leaving the house yesterday, there was a snake (think it was a rat snake) outside my mailbox. Someone had run over it, but the thing was probably about 3 feet long. Ugh, it gave me the shivers, even dead it gave me the shivers.

Something about snakes does that to me.

[Stephanie]

Well, for the first time ever, we went from a crosshatched pattern in the yard to one that resembled a mountain roadway. She chased that snake with the mower until she finally gave it a trim.

Thanks for the laugh Steve!

Now that I know what it is - thanks Lindaloo for the link - I'll be alittle bit calmer and won't go after it. You're right Cajunmama. The information I got on the web said it was a "good snake" and I felt guilty going after it. I was worried about my dog coming across it and getting hurt.

Karan - he's just LOVING those moles!

Thanks Bronnie for the idea of the garlic.

I had one other encounter with a snake when I was still living at home. My cat, Dusty, was outside on our deck peering over the side of it. I went over and saw a gardner snake. I quickly grabbed my cat and ran inside the house and called my Mommy!

[weathermom]

Stephanie, as far as i know the only 2 snakes to worry about in our area are the copperhead and the rattlesnake. Your black snake should be pretty easy to tell apart from them. Most snakes are great for your garden, eating rodents or some eating SLUGS! Tell me that snake wouldn't be your freind!

When we were kids my brother used to run cross country in school. When the city kids came to race at our school they often wouldnt finish a race. They were aftaid to pass the snakes on the trails!

A couple years ago my husband came out of our tent on a camping trip holding up a snake about 18" long, just after the girls and I had gotten up. No idea how long he had been there! Good thing snakes don't bother us! (had it been a big spider you would have heard my little one screaming in south jersey all the way from the adirondacks!)

[Pebbles]

Oh maybe a couple little harmless snakes would do some good in my yard. Haven't a prob with the slugs *gags*. But they don't seem to like my yard.

Christine

[Dee Bee]

WOW -- talk about snake encounters (on a much larger scale):

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/ ... e0608.html

This story was featured on all the local news broadcasts at 5, 6, and 11.

Since the animal control center is just a few blocks from his office at City Hall, my husband went over for a look at the critter. He said it was amazingly beautiful!

[Stephanie]

I think you're right weathermom. I just never saw that kind before.

Dee Bee - I can't even imagine if I saw something like that!

[Skywatch_NC]

Steph,

Could it have been a Black Racer? It's a type of constrictor.

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snak ... racer1.jpg

Eric

[Stephanie]

Steph,

Could it have been a Black Racer? It's a type of constrictor.

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snak ... racer1.jpg

Eric

It had more tan on the bottom of it and the coat was darker. Look up "Black Rat Snake" - they are similar and both are common in NJ.

Thanks for looking that up for me!

[coriolis]

My kids keep catching snakes and bringing them home. We are away from the mountains, so I'm not too worried about rattlers or copperheads.

[Skywatch_NC]

Steph,

Could it have been a Black Racer? It's a type of constrictor.

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snak ... racer1.jpg

Eric

It had more tan on the bottom of it and the coat was darker. Look up "Black Rat Snake" - they are similar and both are common in NJ.

Thanks for looking that up for me!

You're quite welcome, Wxbuddy!

Here's a Black Rat Snake:

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLand ... ake2m1.jpg

[streetsoldier]

Here in Sikeston, one can find copperheads, rattlesnakes and cottonmouths; this is a rural city, and much of the surrounding land is either farmland or heavily forested. Plus, the "drainage ditches" (dug in the 1930's) are breeding grounds for them.

[Stephanie]

That's the one Eric!

He(she?) didn't have the checker pattern the Black Racer did and was thicker around. The one in the picture looks like he just had lunch!

[Persepone]

We have one of those huge black snakes that comes into the basement in the winter... I usually find him on sunny days between the plastic covering on the sliders (inside attempt at extra storm windows to preserve heat) and the glass of the sliders (sleeping down in the track).

He slithers away when you go near him.

I've an atavistic fear of snakes, but actually know intellectually that not only is he "harmless" but he helps to keep down the population of field mice that also get in over the winter...

What I particularly hate is that each spring when I'm out in the garden removing winter mulch, etc. sooner or later I pick up some and uncover a whole nest of baby garter snakes. Again harmless, but I always drop them with a shriek and run indoors... They, too, slither away to find homes...

What can I say? There really is not much point to killing them even if you had the presence of mind, weapon available, etc.

But you have all my sympathies...

[GalvestonDuck]

I've an atavistic fear of snakes, but actually know intellectually that not only is he "harmless" but he helps to keep down the population of field mice that also get in over the winter...

Learned a new word today.

[Stephanie]

We have one of those huge black snakes that comes into the basement in the winter... I usually find him on sunny days between the plastic covering on the sliders (inside attempt at extra storm windows to preserve heat) and the glass of the sliders (sleeping down in the track).

He slithers away when you go near him.

I've an atavistic fear of snakes, but actually know intellectually that not only is he "harmless" but he helps to keep down the population of field mice that also get in over the winter...

What I particularly hate is that each spring when I'm out in the garden removing winter mulch, etc. sooner or later I pick up some and uncover a whole nest of baby garter snakes. Again harmless, but I always drop them with a shriek and run indoors... They, too, slither away to find homes...

What can I say? There really is not much point to killing them even if you had the presence of mind, weapon available, etc.

But you have all my sympathies...

- Education is the key. Now that I know what I'm dealing with, I'll still get startled but I won't freak out.

Sounds like you have a pet! I don't think you'd have to worry about someone breaking into that window with him lying there.

[Pburgh]

I don't know. EVE didn't seem to have a fear of snakes so why should I??
Is that the gene pool that you're talking about??

[StormChasr]

Black Racers and Garden Snakes=good
Copperheads, Water Moccasins, Coral Snakes=BAD!!!

[wx247]

I hate snakes... terrified, verging on having a phobia of them. I can handle any other animal rather than a snake.

[stormraiser]

A couple of weeks ago, I had a garter snake run across my 10 year old daughters foot. Needless to say, she was an emotional wreck the rest of the day. She got her aversion of snakes from me

[stormraiser]

Black Racers and Garden Snakes=good
Copperheads, Water Moccasins, Coral Snakes=BAD!!!

Right, but have you ever been chased by a black racer? I have. It ain't fun.