Living out in the country, and in Texas, snakes are just about a part of everyday life especially with the two tanks {farm ponds} and cottonmouths who love water. I shoot all rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and any other poisonous snakes I see while out working fences or cattle etc. All other snakes that are beneficial like bull snakes, rat snakes etc,. I leave alone because they are very helpful killing vermin and other nasty things. May I suggest that you buy an inexpensive book on snakes and see what the good ones look like so you don't freak because you see a snake that may be harmless. Also, should you get bit at any time, if the bite has two puncture wounds, its a poisonous snake. Otherwise, its NOT poisonous so don't panic. Also the head of a poisonous snake is triangle shaped, like that damn cottonmouth pictured above. Non poisonous snakes heads are not that pronounced as a triangle. Most snakes will avoid you but those cottonmouths are aggressive and will come after, or attack, a human on purpose.