Flame thrower....just sayin

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Growing up in SoCal (We had 10 subspecies of poisonous snake) it, like most situations, boils down to situational awareness. Here in WA, everyone is so paranoid but I've only seen two dead rattlers in 12 years--see that in a month in SoCal (and they'd be live).

Watch where you put your hands.
Watch where you step.
Keep cover (like brush piles) cleared up
Keep rodents down.
Get a dog
Remove any standing water.

.380 ACP has worked well for me.

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- Change it back -

Don't know of any repellant that actually works and I've seen a lot of them tried. Dogs will let you know if one is in the yard and cats will kill most snakes but that means the non venomous ones as well. My sister tried the mothball thing and that didn't do anything at all. They may not like the smell but it doesn't keep them away.

There are only two that you really have to worry about and that would be the copperheaded rattle moccasin and up north the snow snake. Now the snow snake is not venomous but it will crawl up your butt and freeze you to death. '-)

Young man, you will soon find much scarier things to worry about re: your kids. But as to the snake; +1 on the dog idea. The dog will run around and scare away the snakes.

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But then, what do I know?

No, they will wait along a path and strike. Copperheads are aggressive and mean.

I have it on very good authority that St. Patrick was the only one who could see the snakes.

Ok, enough about snakes. Somebody needs to start a spider thread. I don't do well with snakes. I am convinced there is no such thing as a good spider.

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Recycled Bricklayer

Nope this is a wives tale. Urging her husband on to pick it up....

I once had a long war with Copperheads. Find my thread on it. Our farm had a 200 plus foot bluff one one end next to a river. Copperheads had a den in a cave on the bluff. Every spring our farm was overrun with Copper heads. Claiming statute of limitations I personally caused the demise of many Copperheads. I've seen them strike at a dog and hog only because they got too close.

My dog was like a mongoose, he kept feinting until the snake struck, he would bite the snake when it was stretched out throw it and was on it in a flash shaking it until it was over. The hog had sniffed the snake out or perhaps we threw it to the hog, anyway the hog ate it.

While running to the school bus one morning my sister stepped on a very large Copperhead who struck at her but she was of him and gone when he struck where her leg was. I saw this and jumped over the snake, I hit hit with a thrown world history book. Broke his back. The snakes disappeared after dad started raising hogs who find snakes a tasty little tidbit.

Snakes are also very short tempered when shedding their skin. Very, very short tempered. This is experience talking.

Trusting any pit viper could be a strike against you.

For the original OP. A dog that likes to investigate and patrol the yard is good. Teaching the son to not pick up snakes is also a healthy thing to do.

When I was about 5, Dad parked the car and walking around to Moms side he saw and stomped on a grown Copperheads head. Dad was wearing boots.

I observed this and a day or so later Dad saw me stomping on something with my low cut tennis shoes, it hit him I saw him stomp a snake. He ran over and jerked me straight up, I do remember this because of the butt stomping Mom gave me a few seconds later. I was stomping a whole bunch of baby Copperheads...... I received lectures for a while to reinforce the subject. I respect all that lives, but I respect dead vipers around the house.

I wonder if the aggressiveness might be a regional thing? In my little corner of the world I've had occasional run ins with Timber Rattlers, Copperheads and Cotton Mouths my whole life. Never had a problem out of the Rattlers or Copperheads. They always seemed to just want to get away and we leave each other alone. That works for me.
But around here anyway, Cotton Mouths are down right mean. They will come after you.

As for the OP's concerns, I agree with what's been said.
1. Get a dog.
2. Teach the boy to respect, but not fear the snakes.

Two things about King Cobras. When they are confronted they stand up. Also they can grow up to 18 feet long. I wonder what it feels like to have a mammoth king cobra rear up at you from the grass? That is probably the world's best laxative.

If you have mice you will have snakes. There are plug in sonic high frequency anti-mouse squealers you can buy - but some pets can hear them. Not good to have something that drives your dog, cat, or kids pet gerbil nuts, but they work. At least put one in your garage and basement.

Snakes smell with their tongue. When you see a snake flicking its tongue it is sniffing for a mouse. If it is comming down a trail flicking it's tongue it is usually following a mouse. If it cannot follow the mouse into a house or campground it will wait beside the trail that it smells the mouse using. People and our pets often use the same trails the mice use. They use them at night and we use them in the daytime. Snakes wait beside trails because that’s part of their job description.

Some people use live mouse traps and dump the mice somewhere remote. Not good because that area will get infested with snakes. Mice are so light and their hair has so much air resistance they can be dropped off high buildings and walk away. Which means you can catapult them over several fences. But they will multiply and be back.

Some places like Florida have large snakes that were exotic pets but got dumped. When dogs and cats begin to disappear look carefully under your house or porch.

Owls, cats and I believe skunks keep the mice down. And with snakes not going anywhere that has no mice, cats and such rid the area of snakes. I believe snakes only eat about a mouse a week. Which means mice can out produce snakes for awhile until you get numerous snakes. Cats and owls eat every day. Never let your kid shoot an owl. In most places it is illegal I believe. Very illegal to shoot an owl or hawk in North Dakota farm country.

Unfortunately cats, owls, and hawks eat baby rabbits.

What I'm currently using is ......SNOW!!!!!

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

Ive found lead to be effective

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It aint rocket surgery

You need a Mongoose. They hate snakes and can kill a Cobra.

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THIS WE'LL DEFEND ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

I have only two phobias that I'm aware of. I don't like heights and if you are within my escape route from a snake, I will hurt you to get you out of the way! I don't care if they are venomous or not, I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES. I'm sure this was caused by my mother who would would get up and leave the room if a snake was shown on TV. For the people who like snakes, good for you. As for me, I keep my Blackhawk .357 loaded with CCI snake shot and it has "notches" for two copperheads in my mother's yard. She owns the lot behind the house which is wooded and there is a drainage ditch that runs between the house and that other lot. Lots of ivy back there and seems to be prime copperhead breeding area. I did see a copperhead last year on the steps beside the house that come from the backyard up to the front yard. Apparently he made a tactical retreat while I was retrieving said Blackhawk and was gone when I got back. When it comes to snakes in the yard, my Blackhawk and I are, like the Coast Guard, Semper Paratus.

C(Ophidiophobic)W

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I know nothing about cottonmouths and copperheads? I assume they eat mice like most other snakes. Get rid of mice.

Dog barking looking up at a tree sometimes indicates a mountain lion is in the tree. Dog barking looking down often indicates a snake in the grass. In most places you only shoot the snakes with the rattles.

Mice tunnel in and follow the inside walls. Snakes follow were mice go. The mice wait for you to go to sleep, then walk along floor following the base of the walls. If your summer home is a log cabin with a dirt floor it may seem cunning to put a lantern by a visible part of log wall and wait a an hour after everyone else is asleep.

Unfortunately shooting the mouse or snake inside log cabin at night might wake up wife and she might not be favorably impressed by the sudden noise.

Sub sonic cartridges are easier on dogs ears but indoors dog might shake awhile after hearing the shot.

Mouse traps are best even in log cabins.

Maybe take cat with flea collar to cabin a week ahead of time. Food, water, and cat box. Unless there are dead mice inside which might indicate bubonic plague or hanta virus in California Sierra Nevada Mountains.

My late wife was so frightened of snakes that it would have been impossible to get her out of her locked bedroom to help me with the boiling water treatment! A water snake once got into our house. I hated to kill it but if I had not, I would still be living in a motel! My wife would even turn off the TV if they showed a picture of any kind of snake!

A friend of mine wife's saw one go down the HVAC register in their home. They stayed at the Holiday Inn for an extended period of time. My barber was picking cucumbers in his garden when a Copperhead bit him on the hand at the base of a finger. Despite the best of medical care, he lost the finger.

Once a cute little black snake got in my green house. I really wanted to let him go, but once my wife had seen him, she vowed that she would never enter the greenhouse again unless she saw his dead body. Since I depended on her to mist my orchids while I was at work, he had to go to snake heaven!

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

Speaking of spiders, my soon to be 46 year old daughter (2 daughters and 2 1/2 grand children), who is rarely afraid of the Devil himself, has a pathologic fear of spiders. She will hold snakes and all sorts of other creatures, but spiders are her downfall! Over the years she has used up every can of spray aerosol that I own (hair spray, WD-40, insect and wasp killer and even spray paint) to get these little buggers. Once in a pet store, she wet her pants when she saw a tarantula in a cage.

I have never understood her phobia! All you have to do is step on them and they are in spider heaven!

medxam

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

It's kinda weird.. I was expecting to see poisonous snakes out the
kazoo at my dirt patch up in OK. But in the 6 years since I started
going there, I still have not seen one. Nada.. But I've seen several
non poisonous.
I'm thinking that surely they are there.. Somewhere.. Gotta be..
The habitat is perfect for copperheads and rattlers, and I know there
are cottonmouths down at the lake..
But so far, they have been very tactical, and have managed to totally
avoid me. Maybe I'm livin right.. I dunno.. :/
Maybe they don't like the smell of the numerous red cedar/juniper
trees around there.
Maybe I just need to be there more. I dunno.. But I guess I shouldn't
be complaining.

But watch.. now that I say this, I'll probably see three of em next time
I'm there. I always wear snake protectors when I'm mowing, or
prowling around in the brush.

I *hate* cottonmouths, and I think they are usually the most
aggressive. We've had them climb up the back of our boat at night
looking for mayhem. I've had one little $@#% chew a hole in the metal
fish basket I was using, and fill a big catfish with so many holes, I had
to throw it away. The snake was hanging off the basket when I pulled
it up to dump a fish. Hate them nasty things..

Copperheads are what I should be seeing the most of at my place, with
maybe a few rattlers thrown in.
I don't mess with any of the good snakes, but any bad one I see on my
property is going to develop lead poisoning. I don't want to step on it
somewhere in the future.

I also hate spiders.. Can't stand em.. But.. I actually like
Tarantulas.. Those are the only ones I don't squash if I see one.
All others are generally toast.. Ditto for the scorpions.
Maybe it's like the snakes.. I know they are there, but seem to avoid
them..
I also knew Tarantulas should also be there, but never saw one until
a couple of years ago. And then saw two different ones on the same
trip. I didn't mess with em.. I told em, as long as you earn your keep,
and run off any interlopers, I'll let you hang out. lol..
I did shoot them with my camera..
It's the black widows and brown recluse spiders that I can't stand.
Really nasty wounds if they get you.

OP- You have a 3 year old son and he does not have a dog? Shame on you, and now your are moving to a large yard. Come on, it's time that boy had his first dog, and yes its the best way to keep the snakes out of the yard. This has to be an outside dog. Does not count to have a lap dog that stays in the house. Small dog, big bark, loves the boy, boy loves the dog. Snakes will hate the place along with the mice if its the correct dog. We need to see pictures of the new dog, and by the way, if you do not hand load, pick up some shot cartridges for that favorite S & W. It will make big Browne points with Mom on the first Cottonmouth that upsets the new dog. It's a win, win for everyone. O, and yes, name the new dog "Snakekiller", shortened to "Killer", just like old Jerry Lee.

An effective snake repellent is called a shotgun.😃

The last copperhead I saw was promptly dispatched with my power mower! I couldn't find anything left of him.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Saint Patrick

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Back to back World War Champs.

I was going to say, in jest, "Bigger snakes" but your correct suggestion trumps my jest.

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NFA CSSA CCFR (Canada), NRA

Yes it is. It's a very good way to forget about snakes. It has specific smell and it drives snakes crazy - causes disorientation and they run away. For the further looks take a look at snake repellent reviews Take care !

I would guess marijuana would keep cottonmouths away. Imagine when a water moccasin actually gets cottonmouth.

Snakes don't usually gather around large ungulates. I've found horses to be most effective. Snakes don't like to be stepped on by large animals. Climbing snakes don't seem to be bothered by horses, but the red or yellow rat snakes I see climbing around the rafters of my barn sure seem to keep the rat population in check.

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NRA Benefactor

ZOMBIE SNAKE THREAD..

**8 YEARS OLD.. the OP's child is now 11 years old..**

We're done

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP