snake trap

jose bagge · Jul 19, 2011

I apparently have about a 6 foot black snake in the barn that just freaks my girls (wife included) out- puts them into total paralysis mode. Doesn't seem like a normal critter trap will catch it...anyone familiar with what it takes to make a snake trap?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 19, 2011

I don't really like snakes myself, but a black snake is the best friend you can have in your barn. Sure helps getting rid of rodents.

Kirk Grau · Jul 19, 2011

I agree with the other reply that a black snake is about your best friend in the barn. Keeps mice and rats at bay and will climb into overhead structure and clean out nests.

They give me a bit of the heeby jeebies as well, but I would be keeping it around. Of course as you note the wife and kids may have other plans.

I have no idea how to capture one.

Good Luck,

Kirk

Country Nate · Jul 19, 2011

What ever you do please don't kill it. You use to see them all the time around here and now they are an unusual site. Seems like they are almost endangered.

dej(Jed) · Jul 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:35:49 07/19/11) I apparently have about a 6 foot black snake in the barn that just freaks my girls (wife included) out- puts them into total paralysis mode. Doesn't seem like a normal critter trap will catch it...anyone familiar with what it takes to make a snake trap?

Here we go with the black snake myth. My brother-in-law said the same thing and when I put a 6 footer in his pickup cab, he about went nuts. I have seen them eat baby rabbits and squirrels. Every fall I still have to buy rat and mouse poison because the black smakes don't do what you say.

Steve in VA · Jul 19, 2011

I'm in the 'rather have a black snake' camp. I've got some great pictures of a black snake taking care of a rattler if someone can tell me how to post them. I've never posted pics before.

VADAVE · Jul 19, 2011

I also perfer they are where I am not.
It is said that it is a myth that Black Snakes and Copperheads don't get along BUT I will say when I have a black snake around the buildings there are no copperheads.

NY 986 · Jul 19, 2011

Around here you maybe have 5 months of snake weather so you can't count on them for rodent control. They also tend to stay near creeks and streams so if you are thousands of feet from those, then again, you will not see them.
Once the skunk population picked up around here any rodents that may have been here disappeared and you generally see them at 40 degrees or above. You usually don't see snakes if it is below 60 degrees around here. We have surprisingly little odor issues with them and once they get accustomed to people they don't exhibit the nervousness that leads to spraying. We normally see them an hour before it gets dark so it is not an all-day thing to deal with them.

pete 23 · Jul 19, 2011

The snake is about the only living creature I will make a positive effort to run over if I see one on the road if no traffic of course. Years ago, at county fair, went into wild life display building and a gal was carrying some big old snake wrapped around her shoulder, daughter was gone like a bullet and I was not far behind.

jose bagge · Jul 19, 2011

Unfortunately, I've got a few rodents too...but I can trap them, and they don't send my wife into shock.

Absent Minded Farmer · Jul 19, 2011

I'd wager that if a snake would go into a log to get a rabbit, it might slide into a 7' length of PVC or corrugated drain pipe with a mouse or rat(bait) screened in at one end? Just an idea.

Mike

JerryS · Jul 19, 2011

A black snake won't hurt you, but he can make you hurt yourself. Even so, I share my workshop with one. Even if he eats only one rat (or flying squirrel) a month he's earned his keep with me.

Never saw a black snake eat a copperhead, but don't doubt that they do. A couple of weeks my SIL (next door) saw a Kingsnake eating a copperhead.

It's senseless to kill a snake if you don't know what you're killing. Sometimes it's senseless even if you do know. I don't kill copperheads if they're out in the woods where they belong.

snoop-nc · Jul 19, 2011

What do you mean by don't get along well? Just how did the Black Rattleheaded Copper Moccasin evolve??

We've got a fair sized black snake hangs out around here...If I see it in the yard I'll just go a step or two outta my way to leave him in peace.

Rick

Tony in Mass. · Jul 19, 2011

I'm with the guys that say let the humans 'adapt'. skunks, snakes, anything that eats mice is a 'necessary nuicance'? however ya spell it. A wall or ceiling full of desease carrying noisy rodents is no way to live. Let whatever predators get what they can before they hybernate, 'cause in the winter, mr mousey and friends is all yours to deal with... and you are around smaller venomous snakes? That's a 'humans better adapt to black snake' moment...

Arkansas · Jul 19, 2011

I unintentionally caught 3 water moccasins with a minnow trap; the kind that funnels in on both ends and splits in the middle. I forgot to throw it back in the water, and rolled down to waters edge. I had a cloths hanger wire rigged thru the middle of 35mm film canister, which had boiled egg yolk for minnow attractant.( this was rigged to suspend the canister in the middle of the trap.) Apparently, the snakes like it too, and couldn't get out. Well, I chose the wimp method of dealing with the situation; 12 gauge bird shot, and repaired the trap later.
Maybe you could rig something similar? But, I agree, don't kill a black snake.

Old Roy · Jul 19, 2011

Black snake wrapped around a copperhead means it is going to strangle it not trying to breed .

Copperheads are live bearers and Black snakes lay eggs.

Bill Tom · Jul 19, 2011

We found 2 snake skins in the basement the past few days. Probably black snakes. Someone said moth balls will run them off, don't do that cause the fumes are super toxic. I have plugged every hole with that foamy stuff in a can and have 4 of those large rat glue traps set out.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 19, 2011

You can pick them up.They will try to bite you but the teeth are like nylon bristles. They don't take to captivity and will not like being in an aquarium. Pick it up throw it in a laundry bag and relocate it far away.

CoopertownBob · Jul 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:35:49 07/19/11) I apparently have about a 6 foot black snake in the barn that just freaks my girls (wife included) out- puts them into total paralysis mode. Doesn't seem like a normal critter trap will catch it...anyone familiar with what it takes to make a snake trap?

Black snakes are super easy to catch, just grab hold of their tail. Use a stick to lift their front parts off the ground at the same time, and they usually just go willingly along for the ride when they realize you're not going to eat them. If that is too much for you, get one of those "grabber" things that lets you pick up stuff without bending over, and grab him about a foot or less behind the head first, then pick up his tail, though you will probably get musked on that way due to the pressure exerted by the grabbers, makes the snake think he is being injured or eaten. I pulled one out of an old duffel bag last week that was about five and a half foot long. Yes, it is a little disconcerting to discover one that way, but once I regained my composure, I just picked him up and toted him back to the edge of the wheat field I have in back of the barn. I have caught two in my kitchen before as well, and I just carried them off to the woods and let them go. I also keep one large one in the crawl space just to keep the mice out of the house. Been working for two years now.

Dennis in NC · Jul 19, 2011

out in the shop or barn they are safe here ,but i have a 10 ft rule when it comes to the house . had one get in almost lost a wife.sorry if they cross the 10 ft line i call the judge

Arkansas · Jul 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 15:59:13 07/19/11) out in the shop or barn they are safe here ,but i have a 10 ft rule when it comes to the house . had one get in almost lost a wife.sorry if they cross the 10 ft line i call the judge

I'm assuming you're talking about 'THE' Judge; as in firearm?

eastexan · Jul 19, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:45:38 07/19/11) I don't really like snakes myself, but a black snake is the best friend you can have in your barn. Sure helps getting rid of rodents.

They help in getting rid of rodents, but they're not your friend if you have poultry. They love to eat eggs and chicks and anything else they think they can swallow.

Fergienewbee · Jul 19, 2011

Another vote for the snakes. When I was a kid, 50-plus years ago, we saw blue racers almost daily, since we played out in the woods every day. We killed every one we saw--or at least tried to. Now I'm thrilled to see one. I saw a fox snake and a milk snake around the wood pile the last couple of years. They help with mice and chipmumnks. I'd love to have a black snake around, but they are rare in Michigan.

Larry

Dennis in NC · Jul 19, 2011

410-45 at last resort

snake trap

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