new here - snakes? (Chapel Hill: chapel, live, safe)

[scrappinJudy]

I'm new here; have 2 dogs.
Is there an effective deterrent for snakes?
is there such a thing that is safe around dogs?

[jshallen]

depending on where you live...you shouldnt have to worry about snakes. they are pretty skiddish in these parts. nothing aggressive and the only poinsonous snake would be the copperhead. cottonmouths are few and far between.

get a cat

[CHTransplant]

We relocated a baby copperhead from our yard to a woods nearby just this past weekend.

[al_roethlisberger]

There are some pretty extensive discussions on "snakes" every few months it seems. Enter "snakes" in the advanced search function, and select this forum to search. I think you'll probably learn more about local snakes than you ever imagined

In summary though, yes there are snakes, some are poisonous, but I wouldn't characterize NC as having a "snake problem" or requiring anything other than being knowledgeable of snake habitats. For the most part, snakes want nothing to do with you or a dog and will try to get away.

Good luck!
Al

[frogandtoad]

We had a lot of copperheads on our property in Chapel Hill but it was quite wooded with a stream running through it--they like the stream banks. We also had a dog, and didn't worry about it. However, if it's something that really worries you, no there's no snake deterrent, but there are classes you can take your dog to which teaches them to be scared of snakes and they won't approach one. These classes are common in AZ and NV where there are lots of rattlers. I don't know if/where they are available in the Triangle. My feeling was always that copperheads are well hidden so most likely my dog would not see the snake anyway.

edit: I would disagree that copperheads will try to "get away." They are known for hiding very well, and for standing their ground. Most bites come from messing with snakes (not smart). The second most come from stepping on/near a copperhead by mistake. They have no rattle, and they will strike w/o warning. A neighbor of ours was bitten and was hospitalized from it. But this is still rare, and I've only heard of them being a problem on wooded, wet lots (like ours!)

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

There are classes you can take your dog to which teaches them to be scared of snakes and they won't approach one.

Well I guess I'm smarter than the average dog - I'm scared of snakes and didn't even have to take a class to learn how!

[frogandtoad]

Originally Posted by CHTransplant

Well I guess I'm smarter than the average dog - I'm scared of snakes and didn't even have to take a class to learn how!

Funny!

[rockinmomma]

They do make this stuff called "snake away" It creates a line that snakes don't want to cross. Be careful not to entrap a snake.

I have to agree with the poster who advised about coppeheads. They are territorial. Most times, what I encounter are black racers. People say they don't chase you, but I beg to differ... they aren't posionious, but if you run, they will chase.... I speak from experience.

Most dogs know not to mess with at snake. It is one of those things. I have an airhead poodle, even sh knows to bark... from a distance.

[dansdrive]

Couple things I do when walking especially in the evening on a cool night (spring & fall) when the days are warm and the pavement heats up. Snakes like to lay on the warm pavement when the air temp cools down. I carry a walking stick and make noise by tapping the stick onto the pavement. Typically snakes are gone when they hear a noise or feel a vibration. I also do the same when walking around Falls Lake. So far it has worked I seen and heard some moving away or seen them sunning on the shore line and changed paths. They were there first as far as I was concerned. I have also had them slide by me on the shore line of Falls Lake while I was fishing. Again they had no interest in me they were just out looking for food.

So I would not be to overly concerned about Snakes in the Triangle area just use common sense, carry a big stick and make some noise if out walking around. Snakes would rather split than bother us humans for the most part.

P.S. The only snake species I like are the ones I never see! Spiders freak me out more than snakes but thats for another thread!

[WeLuvNC]

Our dog actually helped clear our lot of snakes - or else I see far fewer of them around now that she is here! We have had copperheads and black racers in the past as well as a small green snake. we make sure we make plenty of noise when outside and now that we have our dog, we haven't seen any. A neighbor swears she had a rattler in her backyard fussing at her dogs but that was the first I'd ever heard of a rattle snake being around our 'hood.