What to do about a snake?

[coffeenutdesigns]

Just went to check on my doe who just kindled and while I was reaching in for babies, a red racer type snake comes slithering out from under the poop catching tub. I had no readily available weapon (ok, I had a shovel, but it took me too long to realize that) but it took off, I had it sort of cornered and tried killing it with a 2x4 but it was under some cage wire that softened the blow and it got away. Sooooo, my question, will a racer snake eat baby rabbits? Especially newborns? I know they'll snatch eggs so if I find it again it will die, but I wonder how worried I should be for all my babies. I brought the little ones in, and I might go back out for the 5 day olds.

Next question, how do I get rid of it. I have a big rat trap I could put right by the hole I think it came out of or I can just keep a few in the rabbit shed floor. Will those work? Is there a better option?

Don't try to convince me snakes are nice and should be rehomed or whatever. If it is eating stuff that I should be eating, it's a goner if possible. I don't mess with the little bitty garden snakes that don't eat eggs, but I don't feed my animals so they can feed the snakes. I have no sympathy in my heart for animals that eat my food when there is a more than adequate supply of field rodents I would be happy for them to eat. <br /><br /> __________ Thu May 29, 2014 11:53 am __________ <br /><br /> I do have some snake away handy. No clue if it actually works, but I'll outline the perimeter of the rabbit shed just in case.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Snakes will eat anything they can swallow, so if it was big enough it probably will.

I have never heard of "snake away" or of any use of traps for them. If it happens to slither over the trigger on the trap it would kill it (or at least immobilize it until you found it)... maybe a "black hole" type gopher trap stuck in the hole would work better than a flat trap?

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I've never seen one of those traps. I'll have to look for one. I was thinking the rat trap might work for at least holding it until I see it or something.

I feel bad now. I have one doe who has a beautiful nest build in her nest box and has for a while but hasn't kindled. She is long overdue, but I'm hoping I'm just wrong with the dates. I wonder if perhaps a snake got in there and took her litter? I had suspected possibly a rat but I never saw any messiness so really thought maybe she just missed. She and her sister have not been good producers and are headed for freezer camp anyway. Now I wonder if she actually did have a litter already and the snake got it.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I wonder if perhaps a snake got in there and took her litter?

If your cages are standard 1" x 2" wire, the snake would probably not have been able to squeeze back out after eating an entire litter.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Yeah, maybe...but if they were new ones and she didn't have a big litter? I dunno. I just can't figure out why she has such a great nest and I still have no babies in it. I never saw any bloody fur or paper in the nestbox or anything like usual, so I still think maybe she's faking me out because she knows she's headed to freezer camp...but I now I have suspicions.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Usually I will see a spot of blood here and there when my does kindle.

Have you tried palpating her? You should be able to feel the kits bodies, although even late in pregnancy I have been fooled by does that carry high in the abdominal cavity.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I suck at palpating. I just figure I'll leave that nestbox in until I am good and sure.

 

[MaggieJ]

So far the snake has harmed nothing that you know of... It was probably hunting rodents. I'd far rather have a snake problem than a rat problem!

Exclusion is my preference for any potential predator, especially the useful ones like weasels and snakes. My cages - no longer in use - were made of 1"x1" wire, which will keep out anything large enough to eat kits. Wire with larger holes and uncovered J-feeders are potential gateways for predators like rats, weasels and snakes.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Well, that doesn't help the problem at the moment. Snakes kill baby chicks and eat eggs and potentially baby rabbits, so it's not staying if I see it again. My cages are made, so I can't magically change the size of the wire at the moment. I really just want to know if anyone knows how to catch a snake or repel a snake.

 

[MaggieJ]

I do understand why you want to get rid of the snake, but that may be only a temporary fix. It's quite likely that there will be another and another. You could add hardware cloth to your maternity cages; I know some members have had to do this to keep their rabbits safe.

Sorry, I don't know anything about trapping or repelling snakes. We have snakes, but not usually big ones, and they have never caused a problem.

 

[coyotejoe]

Your rat traps would work if the snake crosses directly over the trigger. You might try bait but I don't know what would appeal to a snake, I never could bring myself to have a conversation with one, although I did once exchange a few words with a politician. If you could bait the trap to catch the snake by the head, that would be ideal, it would probably die pretty quickly and if you're at all like me you'd rather not find it alive.

 

[Peach]

When we feed our snake (We downsized from our larger boas and retics, but still have our bearded dragons <3 ), we don't feed anything larger than the width of their head. They generally don't want to eat anything much larger cause it can be potentially dangerous to themselves. They are pretty smart about how they size things up. I've heard snake repellent is pretty much a joke, so it probably won't do much.

Depending on the size of the snake, it's not likely to eat a whole baby litter of rabbits. If you watch a snake eat, usually they don't eat very fast. Snakes aren't really the fastest eaters and when they are VERY full, they will just lay there, and give you a surprise when you walk up. Snake still need to be able to slither away from predators. The heavier they are, the less likely they are to be able to run and they would have to essentially regurgitate their food.

If you see him and he isn't venomous (probably isn't, but identify them before handling) , I would simply get a bucket with a lid or pillow case, invest in a snake stick (If you live out where you see a lot) , bag him, and take him out into a field.

We have ring necks, georgia brown, and copper heads (Every now and then) visit often at my house, but haven't ever had them in the rabbitry. Normally they are in the ivy growing around it, eating the pest.

If you are dealing with really good species, such as a king, they eats venomous snakes! Venomous snakes, such as rattlers, are on the menu for them!

Hope this is some useful info for you!

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I've had a bull snake eat 5 baby chicks, bigger chicks not tiny babies, all at once, caught it in the brooder full and not interested in moving so I was able to eliminate it from my chickens' lives. I've also had a snake attempt to eat chicks too big for it to swallow, so I ended up with several dead chicks with elongated slimy heads and necks. I don't think snakes around here have read the rules on what they aren't supposed to eat or avoid eating. This is what I think people in other places call a whip snake or coachwhip, but we call them racers because they are long, skinny, and super fast...I'm pretty sure I couldn't catch it with a stick. It's too quick. The new babies are definitely small enough it could make a meal off a few, though probably not all 7. I'm not sure if the litter of 4 that are bigger and always fat as ticks would be too big or not. I don't want to lose them while a snake figures it out though.

As far as the Snake Away goes, my husband was required to use it at work but then they put hot wires around the equipment so I ended up with some of the leftover bottles. I figured I would at least try it. Again, no idea if it actually works or not, but I haven't lost any chicks the last few years since I started putting it around the coops when I move them up. <br /><br /> __________ Fri May 30, 2014 7:35 am __________ <br /><br /> hm, I wonder if I could chase him into a bucket and then cover it. I know I could do that with a slower snake, but man this one was fast.

 

[WildWolf]

Snake Away works very well. It's essentially mothballs, and they repulse snakes. I think it's the smell the snakes hate? Anyway, you don't have to kill the good, non-venemous, rodent-eating snakes. Just put down Snake Away/mothballs around your rabbitry.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

If you want to try a catch pole they are really easy to make. I just use a piece of PVC pipe with a length of hay twine threaded through it, forming a little loop at the end. Slip the loop over the snake's head and pull the ends of the twine snug.

You can then lift it into a bucket or whatever and pull up on the pipe to set him loose.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

I could "try" a catch pole, but I think you guys overestimate my grace and prowess....6 o'clock news headline: DIY, is it always safe? Local woman dies tragically in a freak accident involving a snake catching pole she made herself from instructions she found on the internet.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

6 o'clock news headline: DIY, is it always safe? Local woman dies tragically in a freak accident involving a snake catching pole she made herself from instructions she found on the internet.

Just don't mention my name whilst in your death throes, okay?

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

You are safe from implication, MSD. I got the little bugger today. Come to find out, a 2x4 to the head works as well as anything. I had another new litter this morning and that same snake came creepin' back through, but this time I had a little better presence of mind and all the moons and stars must have aligned just right that I had decent aim and power. I didn't even hurt myself.

The chickens won't cooperate and eat the snake, though. I use to have chickens who would eat snakes, but the stock I have now are not so much into eating snakes and mice.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

all the moons and stars must have aligned just right that I had decent aim and power. I didn't even hurt myself.

:lol:

The chickens won't cooperate and eat the snake, though.

Well, that's a pity. I don't know if my chickens would eat a snake, either. :?