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Just noticed a movement from a carved-out hole in a nearby tree. The tail of a snake was hanging out...cannot tell what snake it is...finding a cooler spot for daytime so he can come out at night to prowl... Since it is TOO hot here today for me to even go outside, I will keep an eye on him from my window.
Yrs ago I heard LOUD squawks from a bluejay...went out to see... a large black rat snake was climbing up the tree, attempting to get in a nest...Now I know they must eat too, but NOT the eggs/baby birds! So I swiped at him with a broom but it was the birds that kept at him and he finally backed down.
Another yr, I headed to the mailbox, walked under a tree, and a snake fell on my shoulder......luckily it was only a green snake but still, what a surprise. I avoided that tree ever after...
Sure. Snakes are often in the palms around me. And under the houses and in swells, etc., etc.
Only time you see 'em is when it rains heavy or you go mucking in their turf.
We had some friends who went boating on the Savannah River. A water moccasin fell into the boat from an overhanging tree. In a panic, one boater pulled out his pistol and shot at the moccasin - several times. He finally hit it. They almost made it to shore before the boat sank... with them and the snake still in it. Which meant that they and a wounded and angry water snake were all in the water - together.
Note - take an oar or pike or long-handled fishnet and gently scoop the snake out.
In the SE, snakes in trees were pretty common - all types of snakes, in all types of trees. They like birds' eggs, after all - or some are doing it to escape a predator, to hunt birds, squirrels, etc, or (I firmly believe) just to gleefully frighten passerby.
I only see snakes in cages, lining the walls of my bedroom and laundry room... LOL. We don't have many wild snakes around here, just the occasional garter or gopher, along with some rattlers & Cali Kings up in the hills. Wish I had them hanging out in the trees near my place! But I'd probably want to rescue them, and already have more than I can handle.
No need for you all to be scared, as long as they're not venomous and coming at you. And while I understand wanting to protect the baby birds, as the OP said, they need to eat too! The good thing is that snakes can go MONTHS without food, so they'll just find another source if you're keeping them from those nests... but eventually they'll get hungry enough, so you can't make them starve forever. And why would you? Is the life of a bird more valuable than the life of a snake? No offense, but I find that to be a weird mentality.
My palm trees don't have snakes! Where are you? And what kind of snakes?
Quote:
Originally Posted by B4U
Sure. Snakes are often in the palms around me. And under the houses and in swells, etc., etc.
Only time you see 'em is when it rains heavy or you go mucking in their turf.
Has to be true, no one could make up that story! A dreadful realization once you would realize what kind of snake...
in the water with an angry/hurt water moc...... (water mocs are one of the few snakes I am fearful of...)
Quote:
Originally Posted by SCGranny
We had some friends who went boating on the Savannah River. A water moccasin fell into the boat from an overhanging tree. In a panic, one boater pulled out his pistol and shot at the moccasin - several times. He finally hit it. They almost made it to shore before the boat sank... with them and the snake still in it. Which meant that they and a wounded and angry water snake were all in the water - together.
Note - take an oar or pike or long-handled fishnet and gently scoop the snake out.
In the SE, snakes in trees were pretty common - all types of snakes, in all types of trees. They like birds' eggs, after all - or some are doing it to escape a predator, to hunt birds, squirrels, etc, or (I firmly believe) just to gleefully frighten passerby.
Of course bird is not more valuable than snake ... I wouldn't want baby snakes eaten either.
Share with us what snakes you keep!
Long ago I had a boyfriend who loved hunting for/keeping snakes. I really liked him, so to be close, I learned to go along for the hunts. This was in the SE ...we saw/caught amazing snakes! He kept only a few, a lovely corn snake (I found him...so exciting) and a few rat snakes as well as a Scarlet King. I met many different people- all into snakes. Pretty darn interesting. One of the guys is now the Herpetologist for SC largest zoo.
Now I live in an area with the water moccasin and Diamond Back Rattlesnakes...those are the only 2 I am really wary of....
The only thing that bothers me-watching snakes eat live food/mice. I am just a weenie.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gizmo980
I only see snakes in cages, lining the walls of my bedroom and laundry room... LOL. We don't have many wild snakes around here, just the occasional garter or gopher, along with some rattlers & Cali Kings up in the hills. Wish I had them hanging out in the trees near my place! But I'd probably want to rescue them, and already have more than I can handle.
No need for you all to be scared, as long as they're not venomous and coming at you. And while I understand wanting to protect the baby birds, as the OP said, they need to eat too! The good thing is that snakes can go MONTHS without food, so they'll just find another source if you're keeping them from those nests... but eventually they'll get hungry enough, so you can't make them starve forever. And why would you? Is the life of a bird more valuable than the life of a snake? No offense, but I find that to be a weird mentality.
GREAT pics! That last one is particularly stunning...not many get photos like THAT . Were you searching for unusual photo ops or just lucky to be there?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kracer
Young painted water snake dueling with a catfish, the catfish eventually got away
Garter snake in the barberry bush
Grackle with a garter snake it just killed
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and he finally backed down. 
...luckily it was only a green snake but still, what a surprise. I avoided that tree ever after...
We don't have many wild snakes around here, just the occasional garter or gopher, along with some rattlers & Cali Kings up in the hills. Wish I had them hanging out in the trees near my place! But I'd probably want to rescue them, and already have more than I can handle.
