Pictures of Miscellaneous Stuff & Things

[Quick Steel]

I notice that this episode has changed my attitude about entering my office. Never had any kind of attitude before; now I am alert and vigilant. I just can't find an entry point the snake would have used.

[Mumbleypeg]

Hard say from pictures but looks like a rat snake to me. Whether kingsnake of rat snake both are beneficial, kill rats and mice, insects and even poisonous snakes (copperheads).

Both harmless to humans. I understand not wanting one in your office or house but as Jerry says, try to just catch and relocate them if possible. A rat snake and I peacefully co-existed in my shop for several months a few years ago.

Ken

[zzyzzogeton]

I notice that this episode has changed my attitude about entering my office. Never had any kind of attitude before; now I am alert and vigilant. I just can't find an entry point the snake would have used.

How far from a water heater is your office?

Snakes will follow the scent of mice that creep in through the water heater drain pan pipe. 99% of those drain pipes run straight outside and are open to the world. The mice will crawl in, usually looking for food or water. The snake follows the mouse's scent right in through the pipe. A pretty large snake can get through the typical 3/4" or sometimes oversized 1" drain pipe.

I have a perpetual mouse problem living out in the country surrounded by grain fields. I've been fighting mice and trying to figure out how they get in since dirt was clean. I've plugged every pencil sized hold i can find and I still get a mouse in the house every now and then.

About 12 years ago, shortly after we added on a small office/utility room/bathroom, I went to put some towels up in the closet where the water heater is located. I looked down and saw a rat snake coiled around the water heater in the drain pan. Its tail was still sticking 5 or 6 inches down the pan drain.

I removed the snake and then I cut some 2" x 2" pieces of aluminum screen wire. I shoved a piece up the drain pan line of the 3 water heaters we have for the house, thereby blocking entry by snake or mouse.

I still haven't eliminated the mouse entries 100% but I haven't had a snake in the house since.

[OLDE CUTLER]

More do it yourself auto body work. "Clear packaging tape is just as good as any body shop"!!

[Quick Steel]

Although I do not expect a repeat snake visit, should one occur I now have the proper tool to deal with it, a snake catching pole. It is professed to handle everything from garden snakes to pythons. However, should a python intrude I expect I will abandon the great state of Kentucky.

[FRJ]

should a python intrude I expect I will abandon the great state of Kentucky.

Or,........ maybe a Colt Python as a great equalizer.

[Quick Steel]

Indeed. Regrettably my sister has some strange objection to my using firearms in the house. Not even my preferred shotgun. Odd.

[cody6268]

Although I do not expect a repeat snake visit, should one occur I now have the proper tool to deal with it, a snake catching pole. It is professed to handle everything from garden snakes to pythons. However, should a python intrude I expect I will abandon the great state of Kentucky.



P1040274.JPG

My folks keep saying they want to move to Florida. I don't mind, but in my list of cons; pythons are "exhibit A"; alligators "exhibit b". Despite the colder weather, I kinda prefer Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho.

[Quick Steel]

My objections to Florida are the same as yours Cody. Actually, the climate in KY is quite mild; that is based on six years of experience. Snowfalls are infrequent and light. There are periods during the summer of heat and humidity but these are intermittent with milder periods in between.

People who move to Phoenix are ....., well I'll just say not many people can deal with 115 degree heat. It is innervating even with low humidity.

So far, some parts of KY may encounter a tornado but they are not common.

[Dinadan]

Cool find in the office, QS! A couple of years ago I was napping in my recliner in the living room. When I opened my eyes there was a three foot more or less Black Racer crawling across the floor by my chair. I did leap into action and grab that thing before it could get into hiding. On the porch would have been okay, but not in the house. My wife hates snakes.

The thing about snakes is that the more a person hates snakes, the more likely they are to encounter one. I love snakes, and reptiles generally, so I welcome any spotting, including venomous snakes. And I seldom see a snake, even though I live in one of the most snake infested parts of the country. Here is a little Garter snake from my back yard.

Garter Snake

And a small Eastern Diamondback from nearby woods.

[Quick Steel]

Mel, I do wish I had your fondness for snakes. I can recognize their beauty but that is not enough for me to overcome my dislike.

About a week ago, for the first time, I found a shed snake skin on the front porch. I suspect this belonged to my recent visitor.

Of the states you mentioned, I favor Idaho.

[cudgee]

If you like snakes, you are welcome to one of these.

[WillyCamaro]

Or take one of these boys out for coffee some time mate...

[dlr110]

You guys are CRAZY if your the ones taking those pictures! I'm such a coward when it comes to snakes I would pee my pants to walk up on any of those.

[cudgee]

Or take one of these boys out for coffee some time mate...

No No No.!!!

[jerryd6818]

Montana is my favorite.

[WillyCamaro]

Heeeeey David,
My buddy here wants to come over and shake hands.

[cudgee]

Mum say's i can't come out and play, i have to clean my room.

[dlr110]

Heeeeey David,
My buddy here wants to come over and shake hands.

Excuse me while I go see what's happening IN THE NEXT STATE!

[WillyCamaro]

...

[Colonel26]

While I’m not a great lover of snakes, I do appreciate a good black snake, cow sucker, or chicken snake, whatever you want to call them. The old men around here when I was a kid all had a black snake or two in the corn crib to control mice and rats. And woe be until you if you ever hurt their snake.

We have a black snake who lives in our barn (the boys named him Slimy George), and our mouse population down there have gone down considerable since his arrival. We found his old skin in the hay loft this spring. He’s about 6’ long now.

My oldest boy saw this one crawling under the shop porch a few days ago. I’m glad he showed up. I get mice in there every winter. I hope he hangs around.

[cudgee]

While I’m not a great lover of snakes, I do appreciate a good black snake, cow sucker, or chicken snake, whatever you want to call them. The old men around here when I was a kid all had a black snake or two in the corn crib to control mice and rats. And woe be until you if you ever hurt their snake.

We have a black snake who lives in our barn (the boys named him Slimy George), and our mouse population down there have gone down considerable since his arrival. We found his old skin in the hay loft this spring. He’s about 6’ long now.

5F183790-D6CD-4E22-98B5-90BD4DB9B54E.jpeg

My oldest boy saw this one crawling under the shop porch a few days ago. I’m glad he showed up. I get mice in there every winter. I hope he hangs around.

894A06D4-853C-4C47-A958-CB8C25BD7065.jpeg

Now that's a skin.

[Dinadan]

While I’m not a great lover of snakes, I do appreciate a good black snake, cow sucker, or chicken snake, whatever you want to call them.

Colonel - When you say cow sucker, are you talking about a Milk Snake? I have never seen one of those, though I think I am in their range. I have to love the old tales that credit Milk Snakes with sucking the milk out of cows, though if you ever tried milking a cow it is a bit hard to figure just how the snakes did it. Same with the Goatsucker birds. Back in the old days, things like a cow or goat drying up did not just happen - there had to be a reason!

Talking about beneficial rodent eating snakes, here is a very fine Corn Snake that I photographed crossing a road. The first time I ever saw one of those was in our corn crib when I was a kid. Beautiful creatures.

[WillyCamaro]

While I’m not a great lover of snakes, I do appreciate a good black snake, cow sucker, or chicken snake, whatever you want to call them.

Colonel - When you say cow sucker, are you talking about a Milk Snake? I have never seen one of those, though I think I am in their range. I have to love the old tales that credit Milk Snakes with sucking the milk out of cows, though if you ever tried milking a cow it is a bit hard to figure just how the snakes did it. Same with the Goatsucker birds. Back in the old days, things like a cow or goat drying up did not just happen - there had to be a reason!

Talking about beneficial rodent eating snakes, here is a very fine Corn Snake that I photographed crossing a road. The first time I ever saw one of those was in our corn crib when I was a kid. Beautiful creatures.

Beautiful creature indeed mate.

[Colonel26]

While I’m not a great lover of snakes, I do appreciate a good black snake, cow sucker, or chicken snake, whatever you want to call them.

Colonel - When you say cow sucker, are you talking about a Milk Snake? I have never seen one of those, though I think I am in their range. I have to love the old tales that credit Milk Snakes with sucking the milk out of cows, though if you ever tried milking a cow it is a bit hard to figure just how the snakes did it. Same with the Goatsucker birds. Back in the old days, things like a cow or goat drying up did not just happen - there had to be a reason!

Talking about beneficial rodent eating snakes, here is a very fine Corn Snake that I photographed crossing a road. The first time I ever saw one of those was in our corn crib when I was a kid. Beautiful creatures.

I’m not sure what a milk snake is, I’ll have to look that up. Those are all names for the nonvenomous snake in this area. They go by many names depending on the community you find them in: cow snake, cow sucker, chicken snake, pilot snake, mountain black snake, gray rat snake, Allegheny black snake, scaly black snake, rusty black snake, tree black snake and pilot black snake.

Here are a couple of pictures I found from the internet of what we call chicken snakes and black snakes. The bottom one is what’s living in my barn.