Just in the nick of time - SNAKE!!!!

[Edna's Acre Rabbitry]

Hi,

Just had to share my experience from yesterday. I had an appointment in town for the mourning then came home and had lunch. After that I decided I should check on all the babies. I have 13 chicks and 16 popples right now. Checked the chicks and they were fine (they're inside). Went to check the rabbits and saw that two popples (2 weeks old) were out of the nest wandering around the cage. Then I looked up and refocused and saw the largest gopher snake I've ever seen (wild anyway) slinking up the side of the cage and going through a 3/4" gap - that I obviously need to fix. It was half way in already so I grabbed it, but the gap was so small I couldn't pull it back out. The cage is wire tied closed and the wire cutters were just out of my reach and I didn't want to let go of the snake. :shock: It was a standoff for almost a full minute when the snake decided to come out on his own. I didn't want it in the area so I caught it up so I could relocate it. I'm really glad I'm not scared of snakes!!!! It was 4-1/2 feet long.

Just another couple of minutes and I would have found a lumpy snake that couldn't get out of the cage I'm so thankful I decided to check when I did.

 

[MaggieJ]

Close call! :shock:

All the same, I'd rather have snake issues than rat issues. I'll bet a snake that size could take care of a significant rat population.

 

[MR_ND]

Wow! Glad you caught it when you did. If a snake tries to eat my rabbits, it'll become a dead snake :axe: :chair: :2guns:

 

[Ole Mule]

Now that is spooky. I am not afraid of snakes either but I believed I would have killed it. I use to get them in the chicken coop I gave them one chance if they came back they dead snakes.

 

[WildWolf]

Wow, great timing!! So glad you're kits are safe. I'm glad you didn't kill the snake, though! They'll take care of many other pests.

 

[katiebear]

Last summer right after we got our first bunns, we had filled up the kiddie pool and were taking the kiddos out to splash around.We had just gotten everyone out the door when d.d. their mom said "what is that sound ?" I heard it at the same time and said" everyone inside now,RATTLE SNAKE" the kids protested but went...sure enough right under the hutch was a young ratteler. only about 2.5 ft. :x But any rattle snake is a dead rattle snake around here,sorry no relocation plan,they are territorial and will return.He met Mr.Shovel very quickly. :twisted: I know you can eat them but I have never had the guts to try...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Whew! You got lucky!

We have gopher, garter, king, and rattlesnakes here. So far I haven't ever seen one near the rabbits, but thanks for the reminder to watch for them.

We saw a baby gopher snake in the garden just the other day.

any rattle snake is a dead rattle snake around here,sorry no relocation plan

I used to relocate them until one killed my JRT Chase.

I know you can eat them but I have never had the guts to try...

They are yummy! Now that we don't relocate them either, any that come here will find themselves on the BBQ. :dinner:

You do have to be careful to make sure they haven't struck themselves before (or while) you dispatch them. We heard a story of a guy that ran one over and decided to bring it to a party and eat it... our friend and the other guests declined, wisely enough. The poor fellow who ate it ended up hallucinating and vomiting in the yard for hours on end that night. :x

 

[akane]

I would think hallucinations and hours of vomiting are one of those situations the ER is suggested for..... Then again my family doesn't go to the doctor for anything. My husband wonders how I'm still alive and many of the health problems I'm having now are from an illness going untreated.

If it's poisonous it doesn't leave alive. Mainly because I'm highly allergic. Most things not poisonous though, which is nearly everything here, have a useful purpose. Snake, spider, and bat pest control is important. The odd chance I come across a timber rattlesnake or black widow there will be smashing and chopping. Otherwise I just move it out of the way. I'd give up the odd chicken to keep a large ratsnake around. The bull snakes do give me a heart attack. They can mimic a rattlesnake sound so you have to look to the tail for rattles. Always fun when you pick something up off the stable floor and find yourself facing a 4-6' rattling snake until you realize it's not a timber rattlesnake.

 

[Edna's Acre Rabbitry]

Thanks for the support everyone. I found another even bigger snake yesterday. There is an apple orchard down the road that is being converted into a vineyard. I have a feeling this is where all these snakes are coming from. I wish they really weren't so huge. I like that they eat the gophers, but my popples are gopher sized. Thankfully I've yet to see a rattle snake here. They're supposed to be in the county but I haven't had the "pleasure" yet. I'm always careful to look at the coloring, tail and head shape before I approach.

I thought that ingesting the venom was different than being bitten. Maybe this guy took some pills along with the snake meat??? :?