OT- If you find a rattlesnake in your back yard-do you kill it?

[Navydoc]

I guess I really do live in the country after all. Yesterday evening I was cleaning up some garbage a fox had strewn around my undeveloped back yard when I moved an empty box from the move to use as a container. Right underneath the box was a well-fed rattlesnake- could still see the bulge in it’s belly from a recent meal. Since it was cold it was very sluggish, didn’t even respond to me, and I could have easily killed it with a rock. I chose not to kill it, as I like snakes way more than mice, but this morning I was questioning that decision, as this isn’t really a harmless snake we’re talking about here. I guess killing it isn’t really going to accomplish anything, where there’s one there’s more, but the idea of having to dose my dog with anti-venin doesn’t thrill me much. Not to mention my daughter. Although I think the dog is more likely to mess with the snake than my daughter is.

So what do you guys think? Anybody else kill these things when they see them? Guess I’m getting my money’s worth for the view lot. Ocrenter, you live near me, what do you do?

[bearishgurl]

Navydoc, I see you’ve relocated back to SD and are enjoying your new digs w-a-a-a-ay out in lizardland 😉

If I were you, I would have killed it. I would have been too afraid it would later attack my dog or a family member. As you probably know, rattlesnake antidotes are horrible to go thru, for man or beast. And one doesn’t have to mess with one to get bitten. They could just inadvertently disturb it and it could attack. The recovery from their bite is horrible to go thru, as well.

If you see it again, I would advise you to kill it, or at the very least, trap it in a plastic garbage can with a lid and call animal control to see if there are any agencies who will to “relocate” it far away.

I have a feeling that one won’t be the last one you will see. Among other creatures, they are part of the “territory” when you are living in a recent development encroaching upon “lizardland.”

[plm]

Also in Stonebridge with a view lot. I think you should look into snake fences. That way you don’t have to kill them and also be safe. Will be having my landscaper add one once he’s done with the backyard. Neighbor had issues with snakes and got a snake fence.

Welcome to Stonebridge. I think you will love it here.

[UCGal]

[quote=bearishgurl]Navydoc, I see you’ve relocated back to SD and are enjoying your new digs w-a-a-a-ay out in lizardland 😉
[/quote]

You don’t have to be in Lizardland to get rattle snakes… Just have to back to a canyon.
I live in UC – and we get the occasional snake in our yard.

Prior to owning our dog – we’d relocate the snake.

Now that we have a dog – who might decide to go after the snake… We would kill it.

Haven’t had a snake recently, though, so that decision is moot so far.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=UCGal][quote=bearishgurl]Navydoc, I see you’ve relocated back to SD and are enjoying your new digs w-a-a-a-ay out in lizardland 😉
[/quote]

You don’t have to be in Lizardland to get rattle snakes… Just have to back to a canyon.
I live in UC – and we get the occasional snake in our yard.

Prior to owning our dog – we’d relocate the snake.

Now that we have a dog – who might decide to go after the snake… We would kill it.

Haven’t had a snake recently, though, so that decision is moot so far.[/quote]

Have you ever found a rattlesnake behind your property, UCGal?

[NotCranky]

I relocate them after killing them first,about 1/2 dozen per year or more.
My dog has been bitten twice and I have young kids.
Wherever I would relocate them to has enough snakes, or else it’s not a good place for rattlesnakes…pretty simple. My five year old noticed a rattlesnake while we were pulling up green bean plants. We were all just reaching down in there pulling away until enough plants were gone to see the snake.

FYI, The first time the dog got bit it was really bad because It was about 100 degrees out and it was hours after the bite when I first noticed. The dog could not breath well, or more importantly pant. His blood was boiling and that’s what would have killed him, not the actual poison. I took him to the vet and the vet gave him an ice bath and anti-venin and kept him for a week.

The second time it was cooler and I notice right away. I found a snake near the house mad as hell so I knew the dog had been there first. I killed the snake and started wetting the dog with a cool spray immediately we got him on benadryl and rest.
He got better in about 3 days. Swelled up pretty bad in the neck area and slobbered a lot but is fine now.

[SK in CV]

[quote=Blogstar]I relocate them after killing them first,about 1/2 dozen per year or more.
[/quote]

If you’re going to kill them first, why don’t you just relocate them to your trash can?

[NotCranky]

[quote=SK in CV][quote=Blogstar]I relocate them after killing them first,about 1/2 dozen per year or more.
[/quote]

If you’re going to kill them first, why don’t you just relocate them to your trash can?[/quote]

I let my chickens eat them, no waste. I like to make my kids wonder if a snake is going to come out when we crack the eggs.

[Aecetia]

We kill them for the same reason, pets and kids. It is a dog eat dog world and we have snake fence in the back yard, so if they end up here anyway, they die. I do however move non poisonous snakes out of the street and one out of the pool to safety. I appreciate the work they do.

[localguy]

We have killed 2 and had a chase and no kill on another out here in Stonebridge. On one of the kills the snake was slithering along the house, I was watching my little boy and the dog following something which was odd. By the time I came across the yard to investigate, they had went around the corner and followed the snake as it went behind a dog house. I asked my little boy (3 years) what he was doing and he replied “snake”. I grabbed a shovel and did the deed!
Localguy

[UCGal]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=UCGal][quote=bearishgurl]Navydoc, I see you’ve relocated back to SD and are enjoying your new digs w-a-a-a-ay out in lizardland 😉
[/quote]

You don’t have to be in Lizardland to get rattle snakes… Just have to back to a canyon.
I live in UC – and we get the occasional snake in our yard.

Prior to owning our dog – we’d relocate the snake.

Now that we have a dog – who might decide to go after the snake… We would kill it.

Haven’t had a snake recently, though, so that decision is moot so far.[/quote]

Have you ever found a rattlesnake behind your property, UCGal?[/quote]
Yes. Twice. In our backyard. We back to a canyon – so it’s not surprising.

And a neighbors dog was bitten last year.

And to the point I was making… I don’t think most people would call Mira Mesa “lizardland”. But my workplace backs onto Lopez Canyon. We regularly see rattle snakes during the summer. And a baby got inside the building a few years ago (Picture from the outside – looking into a store room.)
[img_assist|nid=16783|title=snake at work|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80]

[bearishgurl]

[quote=UCGal] . . . (Picture from the outside – looking into a store room.)
[img_assist|nid=16783|title=snake at work|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=80][/quote]

omg! Does anyone know how it got in?

[jwizzle]

BG – I live in UC too, I have heard of other friends/neighbors on canyons finding them. I know of one couple that found a healthy 5-footer in their kitchen. After I heard this, I ruled out all canyon homes in San Diego. My husband and I have considered a move to olivenhain/rsf in a couple of years, fear of rattlesnakes has been what holds me back. I am truly phobia-afraid – I get hysterical seeing snakes on tv or at the zoo.

Navydoc – the answer is yes, it is absolutely dying. But I can guarantee not by me – hopefully the hubby would respond to the hysterical screaming before I passed out and made myself an easy target for the snake.

[upwardspiral]

I live on a view lot in Stonebridge. I killed a baby rattlesnake just last week. It is important to note that baby rattlesnakes are much more dangerous than adults. Babies are born with fangs and venom, but do not yet have the ability to control the amount of venom they pump. This is not to say that I would not kill an adult rattle snake. I have two dogs and a very curious 3 year old son. I will relocate non-poisonous snakes, but I will kill any dangerous reptiles or insects that enter my yard.

I purchased in Stonebridge approximately one year ago and this was the first snake that I have seen in my yard. I attribute this to the snake fence we added. This fence also keeps the wild rabbits out that will destroy a nice lawn if given the chance.

My next door neighbor began landscaping their back yard a few weeks ago and I believe that the snake entered under the fence that seperates our two yards. They have not yet installed a snake fence and their un-lanscaped yard probably was a home to this snake’s family.

There is a powder that was recently approved to be sold in California that can be sprinkled around a property(it has been available in other states). I have not purchased it yet, but was told Home Depot carries it. Snakes are repelled by this powder. I will be spreading this around the perimeter of my yard after I am confident that there are no additional snakes in my yard that I might be trapping inside by applying the powder too soon.

I will say that we love Stonebridge and are very happy that we chose to move here, snakes and all. This site was a huge help in making our decision. A big Thank You to you all!

[NotCranky]

The snakes coldblooded attributes don’t help it much. Rarely are conditions just right for them to be too feisty. However a few weeks ago on a morning after a very warm night, I came across one about 5′ long that had a lot of vigor. It put up a big tail rattling ,hissing fight . It actually charged me, which is a first.

[Author]

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