I just found a BIG rattlesnake in my barn. Fantastic. I've never even seen rattlers near our property before so that's disturbing. I got about 3 feet from the sucker before he even rattled. And even then I thought it was the hose! I HATE snakes.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had an idea of how to control rattlesnakes on my property. I have a barn cat, but she wanders a lot, and this snake was too big for her anyway. Any other rattlesnake deterrents anyone uses or is aware of? ANY idea would be great.
Thanks.
P.S. That snake has been dead for 15 minutes and my husband is down there trying to measure at him and it's still curling up and striking at him...even though it's HEADLESS! Creepy little nasty creatures. I know they eat rodents but I'd rather have mice. They are easier to deal with! And they die instantly...
Maid Fresh Daily2008-07-30T22:06:51Z
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Some simple steps: Obviously, keep the rodent pop. down. However your decide to do that. Yes, both King snakes and Bull snakes do eat Rattlesnakes. Could be wise to find a pet store that might have them or if you one on your property dont kill it ( they look similar to Rattlesnakes and may even shake their tails, but no rattles). So do larger birds of prey. An easy way to keep them out of enclosed areas like tack or feed rooms is to put moth balls in corners or holes where they can possibly get in. If you do find where they are nesting (such as in a wall or a hole in your barn) you can use gasoline (like a small amount to squirt up in there with a turkey baster or such) to flush them out and ward them from coming back to that area (FYI rattlesnakes give live birth, they do not lay eggs and the younger they are the more poisoness). If you see a rattler in your area and have never seen one before, that means they were looking for a new place to nest. And of course, yes keep a shovel handy. Just a few home remedies that I know of growing up where rattlesnakes are pretty common
Snakes die instantly. Of course it requires a shot gun...... Draw back you ruin a bunch of hay and your barn. Haha. The best thing to do is keep after them keep choppin' their heads off and then try to keep the mice down. Getting rid of the rodents around is the only real sure fire way to keep them away from your barn. Just last year we killed a 6' Cotton Mouth, real scary 'cuz they don't really warn you that they are going to strike. It is odd(not un common) that a rattle snake would pick a place with so much action. Normaly they don't like being around people. But I would say getting rid of the mice first would be the best way to keep the snakes away.
Scarry thought for ya. A basic rule about rattle snakes, for every one you see. There are 3 that you don't. So be on the watch out for them.
Edit-John I see your a level 3 snake head chopper off-er, too. A leve 4 can kill them through pure thought. Ha
I know that I am virtually no help, but can I just say OMG!!! I am so sorry. I am getting chills just reading this! I am fortunate enough to live in an area that is virtually free of rattlers. I have never, ever seen one in the wild. However, if you have a farm in a rattler area, I can only imagine that it would be nearly impossible to completely control them, and most likely you will encounter one again. Here is a link from wikihow on how to rattler proof http://www.wikihow.com/Rattlesnake-Proof-a-Backyard. It seems that the best you can do is to be extra careful about keeping the horse and cat food under wraps and do your best to eliminate your rodent population. Unfortunately, we both know what sloppy eaters horses are--they always drop feed...and of course, mice follow. So, I hate to say that I believe it impossible to fully rattle proof. However, I hope that those wiki tips help. Other than "snake-fencing" your property or having pet king snakes and mongooses... If I were you, I would consult other local stables, ranches, and farms in your area to see what steps they take/have taken that have helped. Good luck with that. Gosh, that is freaky (sorry, I know that doesn't help, but snakes give me the eeby-geebies)!
Here in Florida we have snake repellent that you can get at any place that sells pesticides. You might want to check a farm supply store. I forget what the stuff is actually called, so I'm sorry. It definitely has worked for Pygmy Rattlers, so I'm assuming it will work with other types of snakes as well. Do a google search on snake repellent. I carry a revolver with snake shot in it when I go out to the stable. Fortunately, I haven't come across a poisonous snake yet.
Gosh I would freak out about that and make sure none of the horses go near it or have the rattlesnake go near a horse. If all the horses were in thier stalls or out in the pasture at the time, theyre fine. Be careful! I do live in a state that has rattle snakes but never had seen one.