I hate mice and rats more so the snakes always live.

I have many snakes in my area.  Cottonmouths are killed with impunity and yes, they do have a distinct odor.  Copperheads are given a pass if they go the other way when I see them.  The same goes for rattlers.  The rest aren't poisonous and are free to do whatever they do.  However, if any one of them tries to bite me, they die.

My count since moving into the new house is about 10.  Most were cottonmouths.  One was a water snake that decided to get pissy with me while I was minding my own business, sitting in a chair.  Another memorable one was the copperhead that wouldn't let me pick some tomatoes for dinner.  The only rattler I have seen was only about 2 feet long.  His problem, however, was that he decided my back doorstep was his.  I chased him off 3 times before I decided that it wasn't worth the risk.

This is simple, people are taught from a young age, especially in areas of the country where snakes are prevalent,  that snakes are deadly. Its good to teach kids they need to stay away from all snakes as they cannot be trusted to dicern poisonous from non-poisonous.

It makes me laugh when people purchase/carry a gun "for snakes". Just walk around and away from the damn things!! They're not gonna chase you down!

to me there are only 2 kinds of snakes,live ones and dead ones.i can tolerate dead ones,my wife on the other hand can and does catch the ones she says are non poisonous.its just something i cant do.

Quoted: This is simple, people are taught from a young age, especially in areas of the country where snakes are prevalent,  that snakes are deadly. Its good to teach kids they need to stay away from all snakes as they cannot be trusted to dicern poisonous from non-poisonous.

True.
But as soon as I was old enough to wander around on our property by myself, I knew what all the dangerous snakes looked like. I was kind of a science nerd, though.

FWIW, we killed every poisonous snake we came across. This included watching my mom do donuts in a field trying to over a rattler that had been camping out by the gate. It was also funny to see my dad chase after a copperhead with a weedeater. We had some "help" come out and clear some brush. My dad told them to catch every poisonous snake they found, or at least call him over so he could. He wanted to sell them to a snake farm. They caught 6 copperheads, one rattler, and a 6 ft bullsnake in one day. The bullsnake got out of the container and the others did not survive the summer heat in a bucket. I got bit a few times by non-poisonous snakes that I would try to catch, a few of which were WAY more aggressive than any of the poisonous ones.

Most people can't identify the snake and assume it's poisonous. Then they kill it. I say let them be unless you can identify them as venomous or if it bites you. I have no problem killing venomous snakes.  


I had an albino burmese python named Floyd for a few years. Everything was cool until he bit me for the 2nd time. First bite I forgave although it hurt. The second bite, when I was trying to help him out and clean his cage. He went nuts and got all snarling and hissy-pissed and bit the shit outta me. Fucker wouldn't let go until my buddy grabbed his punk ass and nearly ripped him off the side of my thumb. Venomous or not, a large snake bite hurts like hell.  Anyways, my buddy threw his ass outside the back door and I quickly beheaded him with a shovel. Fucking Floyd!


ETA: I am among the percentage that can't identify more than like 3-4 different snakes by simply looking at it.

Quoted: Because Indiana Jones hates snakes. So must I.

But what about Jack Bauer?

I don't mind them.  Unless they're poisonous and then I'll steer clear.  But I've had a couple of pet snakes, I think they're actually kind of interesting.

I love 'em.  I've got 3 ball pythons, and they are extremely tolerant of curious primates handling them, so I've actually converted several die hard snake haters.  

Quoted: Whenever someone posts a thread about a snake-- ANY snake, half of the replies are ALWAYS a suggestion on how to kill it... no reason, just kill it.  Why?  Snakes are about the best pest control you can possibly get.  They are 10x better than cats for getting rid of rodents, and when the food is gone, so are the snakes. I can understand wanting to get rid of a venomous snake if you have pets or children to consider, but something like a rat snake should be welcome in any yard, and if they find their way into the house they should be safely escorted to the yard and released. So why the hatred for snakes?  Am I missing something here?

People who justify snakes by their effect, if any, on the rodent population are no different than those who bitch people out for killing spiders.  

I kill snakes because I still see rodents*.

I kill spiders because I still get pestered by bugs such as flies and mosquitos*.

If the fucking spiders & snakes would do their damn job, I'd import the MFrs.

*Mostly though, I kill because I am a WMD, damn it!  It's just my nature.

Sly

Quoted: It makes me laugh when people purchase/carry a gun "for snakes". Just walk around and away from the damn things!! They're not gonna chase you down!

Ummmm...Wrong, sir.

I assume you have never been near Water Moccasins?

Quoted: Quoted: It makes me laugh when people purchase/carry a gun "for snakes". Just walk around and away from the damn things!! They're not gonna chase you down! Ummmm...Wrong, sir. I assume you have never been near Water Moccasins?

I have, they don't chase people down.

They may make like a bat out of hell for the water or other cover, and if are standing in the way it might look like they are coming after you.  Sometimes they'll attempt to get in the boat with you to get out of the water, but that doesn't mean they are coming after you.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: It makes me laugh when people purchase/carry a gun "for snakes". Just walk around and away from the damn things!! They're not gonna chase you down! Ummmm...Wrong, sir. I assume you have never been near Water Moccasins? I have, they don't chase people down. They may make like a bat out of hell for the water or other cover, and if are standing in the way it might look like they are coming after you.  Sometimes they'll attempt to get in the boat with you to get out of the water, but that doesn't mean they are coming after you.

No, sir, again, they can and will chase you, especially during their summer breeding season.

I personally like snakes.  Most of the hate is centered around ignorance.  Typically the first person to scream "water moccasin rattlehead" are the ones who hate snakes the most.  They are the ones who believe and spread stupid tails and rumors about them.  They also won't listen or believe real facts.