I would rather be posting about what’s blooming around here right now instead of about …ahem…… snakes. But in light of today’s events, this topic definitely warrants a post. Regular readers of this blog may know that I am very afraid of snakes. Before moving to the country I was afraid of all snakes, even garter snakes (which were thick on our tiny city lot in Mt. Vernon). Over the 4 years out here in the Bohemian Alps, I have gradually become desensitized to the “smaller” garter snakes. I still don’t care for them, and some aren’t exactly small, but I now save my anxiety for the longer and thicker in diameter bull snakes. Bull snakes sightings have been rare in previous years. And I saw two last week! up until today, that is (and by the way, I have lost many hours of sleep over this and can no longer enjoy myself entirely in the garden). The first and scariest sighting occurred in our green shed (which I now would like to torch!) I went in the shed and heard a buzzing sound. I happened to look up and saw a bull snake in the rafters, above my head! To be fair, bull snakes are not poisonous and generally will not strike unless provoked. They simulate the rattlesnake’s rattling sound when they are afraid. Alan came to the rescue and relocated the snake. I had a feeling it would be back since mice are plentiful in this shed.
Today my helpers, Cat and Joe, removed not one, but FOUR! bull snakes from this shed while I took pictures from a safe distance away. The snakes were caught in some mesh deer fencing that I chucked into the shed recently. Their heads and bodies were stuck in the mesh to the point where they could not free themselves, or even open their mouths in at least one case. One was dead, two were quite weak and the fourth had probably just gotten trapped and was still rather feisty. Despite my intense fear for these creatures, I wish them no harm and felt twinges of guilt for having inadvertently trapped them.
I could not have employed 2 better people for dealing with this situation. Cat has 2 pet snakes and Joe has rural roots, and both were very comfortable handling them, as you can see in the photos below. The snakes had to be cut out of the mesh. One of the snakes Cat freed had to have the mesh carefully cut from his around its head in several places. The freed snakes were finally transferred to a pillow case (now on the burn pile), which was tied shut and placed into the back my old Chevy pickup. The snakes were then driven 10 miles away and released. Apparently they cannot smell their way back if relocated 10 miles away. I hope this information is correct! If it isn’t, it will probably take them a while to get back here.
Each snake managed to get itself super entangled in the mesh.
Who knew Cat was such a BAMF? She is my new hero.
There are more action shots featuring Cat, but Joe handled them just as much. Plus he decapitated the dead snake with a box cutter because there was mesh around its head. The mesh could be fatal to another animal if it ate the head. Notice, Jake is not helping and doesn’t even seem the slightest bit interested.
Thanks Cat and Joe!
Makes my garter snake sighting this afternoon a little less exciting. Way to be brave Anne,that was a crazy tangled up mess!
Wish I were as brave as my helpers- would make life easier.
I think you should patent your snake trap. You could make millions! We have snakes too, just found a HUGE bull snake in our building. Seems the garter snakes like my garden too. I hate them, the surprise factor is the problem, once I know they are there I can work around them.
What a great idea! Did you remove the snake from your building?
do you think the bull snakes would eat all the cockroaches that seem to have claimed residence in my apartment?
My dad was raised on a farm and they kept a bull snake in the grainary to eat the mice, with strict orders to not harm the snake! I live in town but have roots in the country, love your flowers. You should have a water feature(pond) for the birds and animals, I spend hours enjoying mine.
Snakes are helpful and beautiful creatures. As a kid, I would catch snakes and keep them as pets every summer. Since this capture and release, more snakes have been sighted in the shed. But I think these are fox snakes and not bull snakes. And the pond is a great idea – we’ve talked about it a bit, but so far only have some water plants and gold fish in large tubs. It’s a start.
Hi Anne and Alan, I had no idea what a bull snake was. Just looking at the pictures made my knees shake. I am terrified of snakes. I have to say, I loved the article in Midwest Living and I love your alls blog.
Hi Kelly, Nice to hear from you. I have not seen another bull snake since I posted that, and wouldn’t mind one bit if I didn’t see another one the rest of the summer! Thanks for reading our article and checking out our site!
As an organic farmer, I know the value of snakes,however, I am also afraid of them. We have a large barn that has many bull snakes in it every summer, and it is difficult for me to go in. I wish I come overcome my fear, but at least I have learned to live with my fear and how to encourage them away from areas I will be farming (by mowing and creating more desireable areas elsewhere).
Ola! Barkandbloom,
On a similar note,, In this latest novel by prizewinning author Ron Rash, the title character relocates with her unscrupulous husband to the mountains of North Carolina to make her fortune in the lumber trade. Rash spins his story like a tall tale, in which the fantastic characters are grounded only by their connection to the harsh realities of the wilderness. Once in North Carolina, Serena quickly establishes her authority with their business partners and with the men in the camp. She shoots bear, tracks panther, and trains an eagle to rid the camp of poisonous snakes.
I’ll be back to read more next time