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I was checking out my shrubs this morning after the nice rain we had last night and I noticed something odd looking and took a closer look. It was a small snake basking in the sunlight. This is the first snake I have come across in my tiny yard. I'm assuming he is a harmless Gardner Snake so I just left him alone. I don't know my snakes very well, if anybody thinks this is a different kind of snake please let me know. Thanks!
Close-up
This is a mole king snake...if you ever see one, leave it alone...they will actually keep poisonous snakes out of your yard. They are quite docile, and we kept one as a pet for several years. We live in SW Wake County.
I'm kind of excited to move down there and see some of these guys. The spiders I can do without, but the snakes seem cool! Even the poisonous ones... it's not like they sneak up on you and attack. And at least you'd know if you got bit, and could go to the hospital. The mystery spider bites freak me out a little.
Are there companies or products that truly repel snakes? My friend is concerned with the safety of his tenants as well as any potential liability.
I'm sure there are companies for hire but I don't know of any. There is a product available at any hardware store called "Snake-away". It is mostly sulfur powder which is supposed to keep "snake[s] away".
I was getting a new flower bed cleared by the edge of my grass lawn and uncovered a copperhead. I don't panic at seeing snakes - but knew by the markings and shape of the head that this guy wasn't a friendly sort. I had planned on planting some lavender plants around bordering the natural area - hoping to keep the deer out of my yard, but now I am worried about the possible friends and family of this copperhead. Ughh, I love my flowers but HATE the reality of nature sometimes. Maybe in heaven the flower gardens will be free of worry!!!
Red on yellow, kill a fellow
Red on black, friend of Jack
I have heard that too - about 4,000 times and still cannot seem to remember the poem OR if red on yellow is good or bad for a fellow.
What I DO know is that if I see a snake that looks anything like a coral (red, yellow, black) snake (or any other snake for that matter)... I am NOT standing around reciting poetry... I am outta there!!!
Red on yellow, kill a fellow
Red on black, friend of Jack
I think I heard it as "Red on yellow, kill a fellow (i.e. a Coral Snake, relative to the cobra), Red on black, put it back" (i.e. a king snake, good for rodent control.
Luckily, coral snakes are VERY rare in NC though they are considered "one of NC's native snakes". Also, their "Red" is more like a brown, at least in the ones I've seen in museums and pictures. A king snake's red is bright red. Coral snakes are also very timid (probably why they're rarely seen) and have small mouths so ti would probably be difficult for them to bite anything but a finger or a toe even if they tried. Most who are bitten by them have it happen when they accidently reach into/under something where the snake is, without looking (NOT smart in the Southeast!)
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I'm assuming he is a harmless Gardner Snake
N_R_G, there is no such thing as a "Gardner" snake, it's garter snake. No relative to Ava!
As far as repelling them, I have heard that if you place a garden (not Gardner ) hose across an areas, they won't cross it. We've lain one around the back of our backyard fence, since our dogs play back there and we did indeed find some kind of (nonpoisonous) snake under the deck this spring already. A couple of years ago, we found a big blacksnake in the yard that they were barking at, and were just glad it wasn't a copperhead because it probably would have struck at them.
One of the things that's NOT good about spring in NC!
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A snake poem
