Uninvited Pool Guest - 5 snake!

Ocean7

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Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

this large snake showed up one day this summer by the pool. He just sat there sunning himself after a very big rain. Once I had identified the snake as a 'Water Snake', and was sure it wasn't a copperhead or pit viper - we relaxed some. He hung around for 3 days and then disappeared just as quickly as he arrived.

PA Northern Water Snake - illegal to kill in most states.
 

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godisnum1

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

Yeah, after shooting it in the head with my pellet rifle and making sure there were no metallic objects around where I buried it, so I wouldn't detect it later on... I'd be totally confident that I wouldn't get arrested for killing it. I hate snakes. Seriously.

Bran <><
 

alwayslookin

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

Cool Snake....bet you didn't have any mice for awhile!! The original "Stealth " hunter.

Dave
 

lumbercamp

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

That's one huge water snake . They don't get that big around my area.
 

lucky1777

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

Beautiful snake, thanks for not killing him. They do a great job controlling mice, rats and frogs. They do tend to be a little aggressive, but still awesome to just watch.
 

River Rat

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

That's the main reason I don't have a pool or a nice little garden pool. Snake hang out down here. :(

;) RR
 

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Ocean7

Ocean7

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

nope - never got into pool but he was obviously hunting for mice and moles. he crawled all the way into a hole along pool foundation that lies in under pine trees. I assume mice created hole. We have 5-10 burials at sea (in the pool) every year when we remove the cover in Spring, and the mice or moles have gotten used to running over top of water on that cover all winter.

I pretty much hold the same philosophy as the native american indians - don't kill anything unless you have to.

We have a nearby pond and large open field behind our property that keeps the hawks busy with all the rabbits and field mice.

According to what I read - snakes will follow a mice trail right to where they live and are very good hunters. I figure that's what this snake was doing - stocking up for winter hibernation time.
 

Ascholten

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

He probably smelled the chlorine in the pool and stayed away. That'd probably mess him up a bit. Nice snake though, good to have around, keep the vermin down.

Aaron
 

hollowpointred

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

you did the right thing by letting him live, he`s harmless. just dont confuse him with a cottonmouth! i guess cottonmouths arent that far north though are they?
 

Tubecity

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

We have enough snakes here in south-western Pa. , copperheads,
rattlesnakes(in the mountains) & others. From what I hear about
the personality of those cotton-mouths from the southern guys,
I'm glad it's too cold up here for them.
 

Ascholten

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

If i remember correctly we had cottonmouths... or was it copperheads in wisconsin / michigan. they hibernate in the cold.

Thing about those ones though, it's not the venom that will do you in, it's the filth in their mouth and the resulting infection you will get from the bite that is resistant to most antibiotics that will come close to killing you. Someone needs to round them up and wash their mouths out with soap! ;D

Aaron
 

texan connection

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

maybe he will give the hawks somthing to eat
 

Tubecity

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

Aaron, you are more than likely correct. I live near Kennywood
Park(amusement park 20 miles upriver from Pitts.) There were
rumors years back of water moccasins being found in a boat/
water type ride called the Old Mill. Being local I heard about this
but naturally the park couldn't let that news get out. I spend a
good bit of time outdoors & have never seen one, but that doesn't
mean there aren't a few around.
 

Goldiver

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Re: Uninvited Pool Guest - 5' snake!

Cool snake! I see them alot when water detecting, they like to approach me to see what I am doing then swim away.
 

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