Snake Problems in Texas? (Houston, Conroe: homes, camping, to live)

[Steve-o]

Snakes? Nothing to worry about. ;-)

They do offer classes to get over ophidiophobia. Its not meant to be an insult, but sometimes taking some courses/sessions to get over your fear is the best thing anyone can do for themself. Would you believe that when I was growing up I had a HUGE fear of snakes? It was so bad that one time I was carrying my 5 year old nephew and spotted a garter snake between my legs. I dropped my nephew and ran away. Luckily my nephew didnt get hurt!!!!!!! Yikes!!!!! Know how I got over my fear? I held a friends' kingsnake several times. Now I own 2 myself and am an avid snake lover and spend lots of time each year out in the wild looking for them.

If you have any questions, let me know.

[jen76]

I know this was posted a while ago. I am considering a job transfer from New England to Houston. I am horribly phobic of snakes. It is a major problem with me and has been all of my life. Is the "concrete jungle" the only living situation where I can count on not seeing a snake? I have two small dogs who have Bellaire, and we would like to be as close to the office as possible. Please help me, as I would rather work for minimum wage here, then chance a sighting and not be albe to leave my house again. Thank you!

[BobTex]

For any snake problem there is also a snake solution!

[love roses]

Ewww!

[calel]

Poor snake. He was just helping keep the tree rat population down...

[cobolt]

By in large you are not going to encounter snakes in the big city.

A friend of mine lives on nine acres in between two small towns and she had two rattlers in her backyard about a year ago. They were very aggressive and actually started moving towards her, so the husband got out the trusty shot gun. Nuff said.

[love roses]

I agree. A harmless rat or garter snake I'd leave alone. A rattle snake is a whole different story!!

[BobTex]

Originally Posted by calel

Poor snake. He was just helping keep the tree rat population down...

Just won't work beside the driveway and with three kids under 12.

I can manage the squirrels without the dangerous interlopers.

[turkeytrot]

I've lived in the Metroplex for twenty some years and saw mainly water moccasins, Lots of lakes in that area. Then moved up to the panhandle ten years ago and seen lots of bull snakes, corn snakes, a few (very few) water moccasins, grass snakes and of course rattle snakes.

After having to get out in open fields where they like lounge the one thing I've learned about them is it's not the ones I can see that's the problem. It's the ones I CAN'T see that worry me.
I never get out of the pick up without my shovel though.
Had a baby rattler strike my boot last year but no harm was done. I ground it's head into the dirt with the boot it struck at.

Just do a little home work on them and learn the species. Then just be alert in the areas the may be in.
The only other alternative is to stay in the truck.

[swamp nurse]

I've always heard that if you burn a trash can of old rags or bucket of old rags it will keep the snakes away. I think just any kind of burning smoke will make snakes leave and area. Keeping cats or dogs around will alert one to any snakes that are present also.

I've been here 5 and a half years and have only seen 2 killed on the highways; one in Mitchell County and the other Dawson County. I actually bought a snake bite kit when it got here but it just sits in the drawer (and I pray it will). I think I saw more snakes back in central Arkansas then out here but again we had 25 species of then back there: 4 poisonous and 21 not.

There is a round up every year in the spring time in both Sweetwater and Big Spring. There was even a man out by Rosco or Eastland that was bottling baby snakes in whiskey and selling it as some virility tonic; he was shut down on business by the state.

I would worry more of Africanized bees or fire ants in Texas than snakes or even the bats; just watch were you walk and wear good heavy footwear like hiking boots; especialy be observant around bodies of water or fallen wood snags and brush piles.