Safe Snake Disposal

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YogiBear

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Aloha,

In a month we will have moved to Texas Hill Country.

We know there are venomous snakes there.

My question is what is a SAFE method of Disposing of the head after separated from the body?

We have dogs so I don't thing burying or just throwing in a plastic trash bag is Safe.

Burning in a barrel?

This is assuming there is anything left of it After Mrs Bear gets thru protecting the furkids.
 
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We put ours in the regular trash. The trash guys here use a robot arm to pick up and dump the barrels, so they don't even get out of the truck.
 
I have roadrunners that take care of most of them. The ones I kill are tossed over the fence, away from the dogs.
 
Hi YogiBear:

Depending on where you live in Texas, there are only 4 venomous snakes found in our great state: Copperhead, Cotton mouth moccasin, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes. Here's a link to a good article with photos of these snakes:

Venomous Snakes of Texas - Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

The majority of snake bites here in Central Texas are from Copperheads, followed by Cotton mouths, then rattlers. Bites from Coral Snakes are pretty rare, and I think the last fatality from a Coral snake bite was back in the 1960s - before the introduction of anti-venoms.

As far as disposal of the snakes, you really only have to worry about the head, but as you may know, even in death, the snake's head should be treated with respect as the venom is still present and can be an issue. I know ranchers and farmers who after killing a snake will either chop off its head (a shovel or hoe is the tool of choice) and place the severed head in a fire, or use the field expedient method of thoroughly flattening the head with either a shovel, or a boot heel (I prefer the shovel). This is only if pets or children are present. If not, most will just kill the snake and let nature take care of the remains ("buzzards got to eat, same as worms").

Good luck,

Dave
 
Inside a jar or can and into the trash or bury.

"Depending on where you live in Texas, there are only 4 venomous snakes found in our great state: Copperhead, Cotton mouth moccasin, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes"

Not really true==there are several species of rattlesnakes.
 
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BearBio said:
Inside a jar or can and into the trash or bury.

"Depending on where you live in Texas, there are only 4 venomous snakes found in our great state: Copperhead, Cotton mouth moccasin, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes"

Not really true==there are several species of rattlesnakes.
Click to expand...

And two sub-species of copperheads.

I think most fatalities may be due to the Western Diamondback, as they are so numerous and so bad-tempered. But the Eastern Diamondback is more potent if it strikes and the Mojave rattler probably the deadliest, drop-for-drop. The latter is especially likely to have strong neurotoxic elements in the venom.

In all, there are over 60 kinds of rattlesnakes, but not all live in
Texas. I think, however, you'll find we have enough for your wife's liking. :D
 
Here in PA we have only 3 venomous snakes: copperhead, timber rattler, massasauga rattler. The latter is the most poinonous but rarely seen as they are near extinction. The timber rattlers are mostly forest dwellers and plentiful. I hike in our State forests regularly. You don't date step ove a log across a trail without looking. The timber rattlers seem to like such places. The copperheads are everywhere but fortunately a bite rarely results in death

We have our share of snakes, but they are protected by law and killing one is a crime unless you have a snake hunting permit which allows you to harvest one snake a year. Still when I hike I carry a gun just in case.
 
I cut the head, bury it about a foot down, put big rocks over it so dogs cant dig up then cover it and then if I dont skin and tan it and eat the meat I just toss it.

If you are concerned just put the head in a coffee can or similar and throw in trash
 
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I just remove the snake to an area of my property that is quite away from the house......no need to kill it, too many rats and other rodents that they will take care of for me.......and I live in Texas too where most of my neighbors kill the things and I have been bitten by a copperhead and hold no malice towards them.....in fact just saved one the other day to live to eat a rodent down the road......
 
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when i lived in SC, for some reason 22 snake shot does better than 357 shotshell reloads., 357 snakeshot holds a tight pattern. behind the neck. seems that burying it does no good, something will dig it up, probably a coyote. plastic empty containers is a thought, then in the garbage. now live in Pa., lifted a plastic bag the other day by the tomatoe plants, about a 20" gardner snake was coiled, surprized he came at me. w/ a stick i hit the concrete block, the snake turned back into the tomatoes, now i guess when the tomatoes are ready to pick i'll wear a glove. their non poisonuos, but will rip your skin w/ their fangs.
 
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I'm in Nevada, just South of Carson City. I was shooting rattlesnakes last Summer in my back acreage. I also noticed .410 shotshell wads that I assume were from the previous owners who were shooting rattlesnakes. This Summer, I have not seen a single snake. We had a pretty ferocious Winter. I wonder if the extreme cold killed all the snakes.
 
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