We saw the same type of snake last year so I imagine it's just a Louisiana native. I'm not surprised nobody would help.

Haiwaii
 

Let's all move to Haiwaii there are no snakes there!!

Hawaii sounds good. But, I read that Maine is the only state that doesn't have snakes. Good seafood too.

I'd think all states have snakes. Maine just may be the only place they won't live if they are released from their cages....:D

If it was a rat snake, garden snake or black snake it was harmless. They eat the rats and mice etc.
I have heard you can tell if a snake is verminous by looking at its eyes.. if it has a vertical pupal it is verminous. LOL... like I am going to look in its eyes.. too busy running:eek:

Google snakes.. see if you can see a picture that looks like it. I may be fairly harmless..:rolleyes:

I've been googling all day and all i remember is that it was a dark color. I don't even know if it was solid. Max was playing with it and my first instinct was to grab him and run. He thought I was playing so he ran from me, then to the fence, back to the snake, to another fence, back to the snake. I was trying to catch him with Cooper in my arms. Ugh, it was a horrible morning. So, needless to say I have no idea what kind of snake it is.

oh... I would have been doing the same... peeping my pants all the while!!
I was trying to offer some assurance that the snake could have been harmless. The thing is, it is hard to know if it is :eek:
I rather have my gator in the lake.. at least I can hope it will stay in the lake and if it doesn't I can see it comming:cool:

There are snakes in Hawaii. They've gotten the ones that have hitched rides over from Guam. The bad part is there are no natural predators on the islands to fend them off.

Brown Tree Snake invasion in Hawaii

Billy's company is called Vexcon Hope he can help

Sorry you had that experience. It was probably a black snake because they can get quite large but they are harmless. We have one about 4 feet long who lives next to the house and last year he came into our pool cage and Scooter thought it was a new toy. It moved, it made noise...what fun mommy. Fortunately Scooter comes immediately when he's called so he came to me right away and I shooed Mr. Snake out the door with a broom. The snake repellents might work but it has to be replaced each time it rains and I'd be very cautious about using it around pets. I know most people don't like snakes and I'm not a fan of them but you probably won't ever see it again. We here in Florida live with them whether we know it or not because they are all around us. As far as calling someone to remove it, the other posts are correct in saying that you have to know where it goes. I'll make you a bet that you will never encounter it again. I'm sure it was scared too.

Karen, what an awful morning you had! I hope you don't see it again. I'm sure you were scared to death when you saw it so close to Max.

:eek: Oh no, I hate snakes more than almost anything.

Thank goodness we don't have them in Hawaii (except for in zoos). It is illegal to keep them as pets here too.

I live just up the road from you, New Braunfels. We get the chicken snakes (harmless) and rattlers (not so harmless) out here.

Karen, I'm so sorry you had to "relive" your past. I bet it was very frightening. I probably would have acted the same way you did. Glad it had a happy ending.

Oh my! Sorry this happened to you... did it look like this?

Attachment 342188

Eastern Indigo Snake: these are endangered in the US, non-poisonous.

You can use an outdoor trash can lid to protect yourself from snake bites. If you throw a sheet or towel over the snake's head, he won't be able to see you and will give you a few seconds to grab a dog and get away.

King snakes eat other snakes, including poisonous snakes, they are immune to venom. If you find a kingsnake breeder, call and ask for some shed skins and put them around your yard, other snakes will avoid them.

One can get Huntavirus from overpopulations of mice, so snakes can be a good thing.

For people who have a debilitating fear of snakes and want to lose that fear... volunteer at a snake breeder's. I had to do that. I was scared to death of snakes. I went to a breeder's and asked to volunteer if he could help me lose my fear. It worked. :D

eegghghh -barf- Snakes are so GROSS! Unfortunately, I live in Texas where there are tons of creepy things..I've seen scorpions, tarantulas...no snakes, yet luckily -knocks on wood-. I had a friend at work say he was fishing in a stream a few weeks ago and saw a bunch of water moccasins which are very venomous. :(

I am like you. I'm grossed out by them! I just don't know what in the world I would do if I found a big one like that in my back yard and my animal control people would not help me! I would have to hire someone to come out and get it or I could never go out there again.

SSSHHHHH!!! Don't talk about it!!!

I am still not over last year finding not one but 3 or was it 4, not sure but for almost a week we found a new snake every day in our yard.

The longest was about 6.5 to 7 feet long in the back yard. My neighbor came over and shot it with snake pellet. It was a black snake and so were the others. I had no idea how fast they were until I tried to run over one with the car. Not happening.

I still go out side and look all around before I let the dogs out. They freak me out!!!!!

I know they are suppose to be good, but Fergie is so tiny they may think she is a rat.

Sorry snake lovers really I am but...

The only good snake to me is a D E D dead snake!!:eek:

What a chain of events I'm having! I woke up this morning with a swollen lip :eek: Figured I'd ice it and take some Benadryl. That didn't work and then my right eye swelled up. Ugh I spent all morning in a walk in clinic of all things.

I'll be planting my marigolds and using Snake Away shortly. I haven't seen the snake but not sure what else I can do now. I'm not fearful of the backyard anymore.

Gosh I hope you're feeling better...

I don't think you'll see that snake again. Snakes prefer to avoid people and dogs, for the most part. Lost pet snakes may be another story, as they have learned not to fear humans.

Best thing to do, (and I want to specify about the trash can lid... the older metal types that have the handle in the middle...use it like a shield) when you first go into your yard, stomp your feet and be loud about it. The snakes will pick up the vibration and should leave.

If it's a sunny day, and you see one coiled around with their head on their body, relaxed... it probably fell asleep in the sun. You can't tell bc they cannot close their eyes. Even when approaching pet snakes, it's always best to wait till they move before getting too close, or putting a hand in the cage.

A snake that is ready to strike will have it's body coiled and it's head and neck and upper body will be in an 'S' shape, raised above the rest of it's body. This is where the shield will come in handy. If you freeze at this point (don't blink either), and you're downwind, the snake will lose interest and turn to leave. Once a snake decides to vacate and is moving away is the safest time to turn and leave, or if one is removing a snake, the safest time to try to pick it up.

Baby snakes are more apt to try to bite bc they are prey themselves when small. Venom from a baby snake is just as toxic as venom from an adult.

Any snake may attempt to bite when cornered. If you happen to corner a snake accidentally, slowly back away and allow it room to leave.

Poisonous snakes can be aggressive, non-poisonous usually are not. Poisonous snakes can bite without envenomating, but always call 911 and get to a hospital right away if you're not sure.

Attachment 342232 Pet normal Burmese Python

Attachment 342233Pet Albino Burmese python

Attachment 342234 Snake behavior: trying to leave

Attachment 342235Coral and Scarlett King Snake comparison

Anyone for a swim
 

I went out to the pool late morning and found someone else enjoying the water. Just scooped the critter out and deposited it in the neighbor's yard:D. The 3 younger "pups" have caught snakes (non poison) and squirrels in the backyard. Luckily I have managed to rescue the visitors each time.

Bless you for having such compassion for the snakes!! If it was me I would be chopping that sucker in half- venomous or not! LOL I hate snakes :(

The one(s) they have manage to catch are stunned from being flung around so they are glad to leave the yard with/without my help. If I see one sunning itself in the grass I shoo it away before the gang sees it. I am cautious about snakes and whatever else comes into the yard or is flying overhead (hawks) especially at night when I let the kids out for their last potty break.

Great article, though the title is misleading, there is not an invasion here. It explains there have been less than a dozen snakes in over 20 years, so Hawaii is about as snake free as you can get.

It would be devastating to have the same invasion as Guam.

Snakes in Guam were a problem when I was stationed there in the mid 1980s. I do not remember which one(s) they were but they were eating the eggs of of the native birds which was hurting that particular species population.

:D:D:D I've done that too. Last house we had was on a reserve and backed up to water. We had pinkish colored rat snakes that would hang around our lanai and would scoop them up with the end of a broom and throw them into a neighbor's yard that I didn't like. Pretty dumb of me because they came right back. That was long before we had Scooter.

that is so funny...glad i'm not your neighbor though!:p:D

Your parents raised you well! Snakes are here for a reason but I would probably have the same reaction as everyone, SCARED. One morning Lola brought a baby snake in my house. I was shocked but picked it up with a stick and let it go outside.

I am first reading this thread now, and I hope you are feeling better and also a little safer and more secure. I would be terrified, too, especially with Max and Cooper. I hope you can once again feel secure to let them out back when you are out there with them. I can imagine how afraid you felt while living in Florida. Although it was traumatic, seeing the person you already are, I think it probably shaped you into an even more courageous and empathetic person than you already were. I know the love you always give your boys, but please take care of yourself too and know that others care about you.

Thanks Lisa. Oddly I'm ok having to go in the backyard. I'm extremely cautious and check the yard now before letting the boys outside. I can even go outside at night with a flashlight to do my snake check. I sprinkled Snake Away around the perimeter of my yard in hopes that it will deter them. It doesn't kill, it deters. However my whole house smells like sulfur (mothballs). I'm planting Marigolds today as I hear the scent repels snakes (& mosquitos). I think I just have to suck it up, as I now live in a state where snakes are common.

kjc - thank you for all that information! I will not be visiting any snake breeders, but thanks for the suggestion. Also, the snake was coiled and I believe his head was up. My timing may have been life saving.