Snakes in SW Austin neighborhoods? (Shady Hollow, West: home search, to buy, new construction)

[alansl317]

My wife and I were wondering about the number of snake encounters in the neighborhoods in SW Austin we're still considering. It didn't occur to us to worry about it until we saw signs cautioning of rattlesnakes in a greenbelt in Shady Hollow West. We're used to occasional grass snakes (though we don't like them), but we've got young children, so poisonous snakes were a dealbreaker for us.

The neighborhoods we're still considering include:

Southland Oaks
Circle C
Legend Oaks
Western Oaks

Does anyone with experience in any of these neighborhoods feel like poisonous snakes have been driven out of the neighborhood? Or do the smaller green areas in these neighborhoods still support poisonous snake populations?

Thanks in advance,
Alan

[llkltk]

Don't buy a greenbelt lot. That's where most of them are seen.

[sainthero]

I live in Western Oaks section and have seen a few snakes, but mostly of the garden variety. But I agree with llkltk, the greenbelt lots are where you will find the most snakes.

[TexasHorseLady]

You'll find them near greenbelts, and you'll find them (and other critters) where there's new construction, trying very hard to get to a home that no longer exists. (Think Katrina, think Haiti, only for bugs and snakes and other critters - that's pretty much what it's like for them when we move in and start tearing up and building right on top of their habitat. That might give you a bit more sympathy for them being around your house.)

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by alansl317

My wife and I were wondering about the number of snake encounters in the neighborhoods in SW Austin we're still considering....

Hi Alan,

This question of snakes comes up from time to time on the forums. It's tough to answer without sounding as if the concern is being minimized or discounted, but my response is that it's not even an issue that belongs in the home search decision-making process because the risk of being bitten is enormously small, as are the consequences even if bitten.

Ruling out any of the SW Austin neighborhoods mentioned because of a fear of snakes would be entirely irrational from a home search perspective.

Good luck!
Steve

[datacity]

If things get too out of control with snakes... you can always call this guy:


YouTube - Snakes on a Plane - The TV Edit - The famous line

He is good with getting rid of them!

[verybadgnome]

Hey this might be a great was to deter folks from sprawl developments.......

Move to the city where there are no poisonous reptiles!

Seriously though I think the odds of drowning in Lake Travis or dying in a car crash are many, many times more likely than any chance encounter with a snake. Even as animals go you are much more likely (117 deaths in Texas since '02) to die from West Nile virus transmitted from a mosquito than poison from a snake:

Texas Department of State Health Services, News Updates

Time to buy a new can of DEET........

[brownsparrow]

I visit my family who lives in circle c.They do have rattlesnakes there in the subdivision.The babies usually come out in the spring and fall.They had one in their garage and neighbors had a bigger one in their yard.The bike path behind the subdivision has several different kinds of snake they see when they ride their bikes. They find them fascinating, wish I did...yuk.

[BentBow]

A snake will not bite you unless you step directly on it - making contact, or by jacking with it, once discovered.