[Mom of 2 Beagles]

Saddie just had a black snake cornered in the garden! She was on a scent this morning and kept sniffing around the shed. Just now she was in a garden area that we have trees and shrubs with straw in it. She was chasing something low to the ground. Then I saw her in a strange hunching position. I run over to see if she has a lizard or a mouse. Laying there is a black snake. He lunges at her twice. I grab her up and scream snake, snake to hubbie inside. Of course he doesn't hear me. I take Sadie in and holler to hubbie to come out and look at a snake. Of course the snake is gone when we get back out. He was plain black, about a half inch wide and maybe a few feet long. He was looped up on himself a few times. We have checked Sadie and no bite marks. I called Wildlife refuge and described it and they suggest it could be a rat snake. They are not poisonous. I hope that was what he was. We can't find him now. Hubbie has searched the yard. So now I have mice and snakes to worry about!!!!

 

[JAISP Tech]

Snakes are good things, they eat the mice.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

Does a plain colored black snake sound non poisoness?

 

[Murphys Dad]

Sorry, can't help you. I don't want to meet one up close, anymore than you do.

Good luck finding him.

 

[zoeyspop]

Originally Posted By: JAISP TechSnakes are good things, they eat the mice.

+1 on this one. Black Rat snakes are wondeful things to have around. Less mice = less fleas jumping around the yard. No it does'nt sound poisonous and if it is in fact a Black Rat they are actually quite docile when handled. They put on a mean show but usually only strike once then quickly calm. When we were younger we used to catch them even the quite large ones and i can honestly say with all the snakes I've handled in the past they are the least agressive.
Don't know if there are Black Rats in Florida but a quick search brought up a lot of info on Black Racers in Florida.
photos

 

[Brisen]

I'm sorry, they may be good for mice and flea control, but snakes are just plain NASTY! It creeps me out just looking at pictures of them, so I can't even begin to imagine finding one cornered in my garden! Ewwwwwww!!

Glad Saddie is OK!

 

[Murphys Dad]

I'm surprised you haven't encountered snakes before this -- we have lots of them in this part of Florida, mostly the plain black varieties. There was a 5-foot one living in my front shrubbery for a very long time. Every once in a while he would stick his (her?) head up. I was told that it was harmless. I've seen others during walks -- I just steer clear of them.

 

[brandyb]

Yikes! I don't like snakes either. I would have screamed if I found one in my yard. Apparently Sadie isn't scared of them though. Hopefully he doesn't show up again.

 

[Murphys Dad]

It sounds like an ordinary black snake which wouldn't be poisonous. We welcome black snakes and king snakes because they help to keep away the poisonous snakes like copperheads. And, they do eat mice and other rodents.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

Well, we haven't seen the snake again, thank heavens. I know, I know, snakes eat mice and all that good stuff. But I still don't like them. Sadie was not scared of it a bit. We don't see many snakes. We live in the city and really don't see them often, that is why they freak me out.

 

[beaglesmom]

You should have lived where I did 50 years ago. My ex worked for a utility company and we lived in a company camp in a remote area. When you stepped outside your front door you watched where you put your feet! We welcomed the king snakes because they did kill the rattlers (and mice). I can't say I'm fond of snakes, but don't usually run screaming from them. We don't have many here - but one summer before mom passed away she yelled at me to come kill a snake. Little garter snake was in the yard. She was mad because I wouldn't kill it. If I'd had to I could kill a <span style="font-weight: bold">rattler</span>, tho I have never seen one in this area. Rattlers could hurt my dogs

.

 

[oneshutter]

I have to agree with you Mom of 2 Beagles. In my house the motto is a good snake is a dead snake.

I know they kill the mice and stuff, but they are plain discusting. I was cleaning one day and there was a black snake coiled up on my lanai. My little Jack Russell tried to get it but I called her in. I called my neighbor over and her son caught it and took it out east. (We didn't kill it just set it free).

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

If you are not used to snakes like us, and you see your little girl doggie crouched down ready to attack an attacking snake, you would not like snakes. Sadie is such a hunter. No fear at all in her.

 

[Gingergoose]

Last year, Henry took a nip on the nose from a rather big black rat snake who was coming up our deck steps while we were going down. No big deal...I gave him a benadryl just in case of allergy and we watched the snake climb up under their deck.

They really are good to have around. If they creep you out, try to resist the urge to kill them...just make some noise (a loud scream should do it ), and give him a chance to go away.

 

[Mom of 2 Beagles]

I guess my loud screaming for hubbie scared this one away. He went away very quickly.

 

[CarrieD]

Yuck! I hate snakes too, only wouldn't kill one unless it was poisonous. I'd probably just scream, run, and take my dog in with me and not go out until I was sure it was gone. *shudders*

 

[MakoCSH]

We've killed some copperheads in our back yard (including a 4 footer a couple years ago). I generally let snakes go, but if it's poisonous it's history. We have a lot of king snakes.

 

[Joe Johnston]

From your description of the sanke sounds like a black snake or a racer. Both are non-poisonous and help to keep other snakes and mice away.

If worried about poisonous snakes, get some moth balls and crush them up into a powder and spread it around the perimeter of your property. Moth balls are the main ingediant in snake repellants.

 

[madison069]

just cause you don't see it, don't mean it is not around.

I use to catch bull snakes and sell them to the farmers. Bull Snake ate Rattle Snake.

Plus Rattle Snake are good eat if you get a decent size one that is worth the work of skinning one.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Yuck, Madison! Eating them?

btw - welcome back

, how are the finals? How's Dixie?