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A Copperhead Hunting We Go

Sindrik8x

Sindrik8x

New member
On my sister's front porch (directly nearby) this evening. Warm summer rains bringing them out in numbers. Sheriff was going to get out and remove it to a nearby forest but it was gone by the time he got there.

She just had a new born baby, has an adventurous puppy that loves the outdoors and her husband (my bro-in-law) is at the fire house (Volunteer) all night and works tomorrow.

Looks like it's searching and cleaning up the yard for all of them this weekend and removing them to nearby wooded areas outside of home proximity.
 

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Copperheads are usually very placid. I try not to pick them up with my hands, but they are very calm snakes and easy to catch to relocate. My property used to be crawling with them, and I've yet to have a dog bite or other problem. When I find them, I use my snake hooks to put them in a bucket then move them 3+ miles away to other good habitat. I also release every king, corn and black rat I catch near my house to out-compete them. I bought my house 10 years ago and already the copperhead numbers are WAY down and I have never killed one.
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Wish you luck with getting these guys evicted!

BTW, this isn't a corn snake discussion. Will get moved to general chit chat. :)
 
Only issue is her pop is one of those I'm curious about everything types. I told her to get rid of them humanely, but her husband and his crew are red neck/moon shine types that have all sorts of guns and crap... probably not going to be pretty. Their concern is the infant they have (only a month old), the dog and my sister being alone a lot of the day.

I told them they need to clean up the yard to the best of their ability, be careful around log piles, rodent burrows, etc. A few of the guys in the group are like me and we all volunteered to relocate, just a matter of which crew gets there first...

Sorry if this offends anyone. Not trying to start up a snake war on here. We all know that ignorance outside of the herping community can run rampant.
 
Not starting any wars here, except that lots of us are the "all sorts of guns and crap" types also! ;)

Truth is, most people will try to kill a venomous snake on their property. Or heck, without education, they'll kill ANY snake. Just tell them to relocate black snakes there. Fib and tell them they will eat the copperheads. It's a white lie, they *have* been known to do it, but they WILL be great mouse competition. Owl houses can go a long way as well. With few mice, there are few copperheads.
 
Interesting about the owl houses man, never heard of that but it sure makes sense. Though, they live on a property that borders a 2 acre pond (literally behind their house). Does that make a difference? I heard they munch quite a bid of avian types and frogs. Plenty of those around there unfortunately.

My guess is the population is actually pretty healthy numbers for these guys. It's been dry in Central, VA for weeks up until this one. Probably why they haven't seen many.
 
If was back today. Sheriff humanely removed it to another nearby wooded area. No other sightings thus far.
 
So the snake is back... my dad and a friend are going down today to try and kill it. Apparently my brother in law came inches from stepping on it yesterday and the snake struck, but missed. Obviously he hadn't seen it. It is living on their porch and they go on vacation tomorrow so they want it out today. The Sheriff won't do more than remove it across the street, and it will just come right back again. 350 bucks is the cheapest snake removal place we can find.

Any other ideas?

The best one we came up with (my dad, bro-in-law and I) was to get a couple of rats from petco, bring them down to the house, kill them by smashing their heads in and leaving them in front and at the side of the porch. We figure if he hasn't eaten in a bit maybe he will come out for one (or if he is already out basking will take one). Once he starts taking it down and is vulnerable, cinder block to it hard, removed and hit again, toss it in the trash.

A friend is going down with him just in case and will have 911 on stand by. The plan is obviously not to get close. He is bringing 12 cinder blocks so he has plenty of shots.
 
Um, I would forego "crushing rats and leaving them on the porch." It isn't likely a copperhead is going to show up while you wait, and wild snakes have a preference for live ones, anyway. If you can hit it with a cinder block, you can pick it up with a hook and put it in a tall trash can.


Why can't the sheriff relocate it 3+ miles away? Highly unlikely you'll see the same copperhead after that.
 
Please don't kill him :( He's doing nothing wrong.

Just do as Chip said and relocate him. You'll both be happier.
 
I apologize to all those who think this is cruel and such and that it is not the correct way to go about handling the problem, but my brother in law almost got bit yesterday, the sheriff is of zero help about the problem and refuses to locate it outside of the neighborhood and the cheapest place is asking 350 up front to remove/relocate it since its venomous.

We really are short on options. We don't have a pole or hook long enough to grab it and move it ourselves. No one of our family members or friends has experience in doing so and we don't want anyone having to go to the hospital.

We are pretty much just using the resources we have to take care of the problem. In my eyes, yes it is inhumane, but we also don't want a snake bit dog or person on that property. The snakes in the woods aren't a problem, but the one that is claiming the porch and becoming defensive is.

Sorry guys.
 
Also, really don't hope this doesn't change my reputation here with the friends I have made. You all know I would go through all options and try all things before resorting to something like this, but one snake is not as important as the family I have around me and the need to protect them. This thing is becoming a problem and no professionals or resources are stepping up to help.

If it does hurt what people think of me then so be it. But, know that I do have a heart for animals and this isn't something I am taking pride in or enjoying. For people inexperienced with venomous reptiles, we are left with limited options. If it wasn't on the front porch stoop and a threat to all coming by the house or stepping out of it, it would be a different story.
 
Step one: Find snake tongs.

Step two: 5 gal. bucket with top. <can get from home depot, they have not had chemicals in them.

Step three: Grab snake with tongs, place snake in bucket, and close lid.

Step four: Transport snake to another area, far enough that you feel he will not come back again and release.

Moral: It is easy to relocate a snake in a humane manner without having to spend 350$ for someone to relocate it for you. And, you don't have to smash it with cinder blocks.

Also, It is very easy to fabricate a makeshift snake hook out of a tree limb, if you do not wish to purchase tongs or a hook.
 
Sindrik8x said:
The snakes in the woods aren't a problem, but the one that is claiming the porch and becoming defensive is.

Sorry guys.
Click to expand...

You mean the area were the porch now exists ?? Chances are..... It was his first... Ya think?

Get a long stick..... And get him into a 5 gallon bucket. Take him out somewhere safe.... And release him.

Better yet..... Spend $50.00 on a snake hook/claw and save a life?

Someday... He and his kind may return the favor!!

Modern science is using venom from snakes to aide heart attack victims.

Just food for thought.
 
Also, I am relatively inexperienced with venomous reptiles as well. That doesn't stop me from moving them off the road or out of houses/sheds for friends and family. Just remember to always be careful when dealing with them.
 
All,

Again, very good methods you all pose. But to those who have never done this snake wrangling with sticks and hooks it makes for a very uneasy feeling. Snake slips off, falls off close to someone, etc. makes for an easy target.

I'm not looking for excuses to kill it. Matter of fact I wish one of ya'll confident types lived out my way and were willing to do it as I would let you in a heart beat.

We are not trying to get anyone placed in the path of harm's way. Especially those that don't have confidence handling snakes like this.
 
If the sheriff can get it in a bucket again, drive a few miles down the road and release it there. You will never see *that* copperhead again.

If you can get as close as you were when that photo was taken, you can slip a stick under him. I wish I was closer, I'd gladly move him for you. They are usually perfectly calm when being hooked.
 
You wanna call him Chip? I'll get you the number bro. We have tried placing multiple calls. He said since it hasn't harmed anyone he cannot move it to an outside neighborhood. The best I can think of is to call the county and complain, but honestly it's not going to do any good. They are worthless.
 
Me calling from out of state is going to get you nowhere. Call the county. Call animal control. Call the sheriff's dept again. If you can get it as far as in a bucket like last time, but move it an appropriate distance, it's gone.

Honestly I think you run a bigger bite risk launching cinder blocks at it than trying to get it in a trashcan.
 
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