Snake in the House, I'm All Freaked Out!

[Rot 911]

And not just any snake, but about an 18" long small timber rattlesnake. My wife saw it laying in the entryway of the house yesterday evening. A garter or black snake would have been bad enough, but a rattlesnake. I got a broom and you should have seen that thing vibrating its tail (no rattles yet) and striking at the broom. I pinned it down with the broom and the grabbed the head of the snake with some bbq tongs (which were the longest item I had close at hand). I took it outside, dropped it on the road and smashed the little fukker with a brick. Now I am sitting here wondering if there are anymore of them around. I hate snakes! Any suggestions other than go and buy a mongoose?

[Moses]

Cute little baby rattler? Guess what. Theres a cute little snake den with a hundred more nearby. If I were you, I'd try to find it.

If you are in a rural area, consider some guinea hens. Noisy birds, but they kill snakes.

[Tim Hancock]

I'll bet you will not sleep soundly tonight! Was it actually inside the house? Was a door left open? If not I bet you will find more of them.

[lendaddy]

FUHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUK THAT!


The thought of a writhing pit of those lil bastards almost makes me puke. There, now that I've bucked you up.....sleep tight

[Joeaksa]

While back late at night saw the cat going crazy in the corner. Went over there thinking that she was playing with a toy or such. Was a brown scorpion that she had cornered!

Did not relish waking up and finding one of these in my shoes or such so got the pest people out and took care of this issue immediately. Moses may be correct that there could be a den nearby. Its a bit late for them to have just come out of hibernation but you might still find out where they are living if you are lucky.

Joe A

[Rikao4]

Kurt, a few weeks back,the lady of the manor wanted a little fire..we just turn up the A/C ..gets the wood and as she enters the house the screams commence..snake is almost eye level to her..drop the wood, her and dogs running about..this where the guy comes in to rescue the fair lady, and score guy point's, ..he is going to smash and vaporize the little 18 inch rattler demon...don't hurt it is what he is hearing..so it's catch and release into the yard to return another day
or , spring cleaning my little waterfall,leaves,real murky water, I decide to remove some leaves first and whoa that is a big stick, oh boy, that is a cotton mouth and he is about 5 feet long / was measured after I beat the thing to smitter's, my dogs and being a little aware as you pick up things will go a long way down here..
Rika

[scottmandue]

Rikao,

I think you may have a song there... maybe we could get nostatic to come up with a tune for it.

[juanbenae]

bet it was a cute lil' buggar, by cracky!

[vash]

ah man. i feel your plight. but that snake probably didnt have to die. not that i am a tree hugger or anything, but i agree family first. i would call the animal control folks and get a few pointers. handleing venomous snakes is tricky. i bet you see more, at least outside. if you have young kids, teach them now. "that is not a worm". i agree with the guinea hens, but they also stink a bit. at least you wont have a rodent problem.

[Hugh R]

Current score; Hugh 7, rattlesnakes 0.

None in the house though.

Weapons of choice, flat blade long handled shovel on pavement, pointed blade long handled shovel on dirt, 12 guage shot gun when you don't have clear access with the shovels.

[masraum]

I'd be more freaked out by a huge spider or scorpion than a snake, but I'd prefer all three stayed out of the house.

[M.D. Holloway]

Baby ones are the worst! They don't know how to temper the venom push and they blow their load all in one shot - the big daddys will save a lil for the next bite.

Sounds like you got a problem - like spiders, where there is one there are many.

[onewhippedpuppy]

BBQ tongs?! Damn Kurt, I don't know if I would have gotten that close. Of course, I suppose smashing it with a brick inside would have been a bit messy. I would find a nice long spade, and sharpen the hell out of the tip, then go for a nice long walk around the yard. That, or if you live in the country, the 12 gauge approach would be ideal. Somehow I don't think you want any more for pets.

[island911]

Nail down any potentially needed med's.

The highest anxiety is likely from the "what if" senarios.

my experience came in the form of my wife shreaking in the midle of the night. She had gotten up for a glass of water, and got strafed by a BAT!

I say, lets just open the french doors and give the thing an exit. She, having just read, that evening, an article on rabies and bats, sez; no, we(ahem) have to catch it (another long story as the thing is effn fast and strafes ya) So, anyway, finally caught it; in a tupperware container, threw it in the freezer, submitted it to the lab . . . and the damn thing came back possitive!

Neither of us bitten, but the transmission modalities of rabies isn't so clear. so we both ge the series of shots. No fun, but at least it's expensive (a few thousand, each)

THEN, a few weeks later, I'm headed off to bed, colse-up the house, turn down the lights, and I think I see something flutter out of the corner of my eye. I think - parinoia ... I wait . .. and outloud "NO ******* WAY!" (another!)

This time, (and here's the point) this time the whole event was over in about 30 seconds. reason being, I had zero "what if it bites me" worries (innoculated). And, since I had already considered shotguns ect, before (no way that would work) I grabbed a nice aero tennis racquet, waited for the bat . .. as it circled closer, and closer, and .. .. BAM!

Absolutly thee most gratifying serve of my life. . .. Batted it (ahem) clear accross the room, bouncing it six feet off the opposite wall. (somewhat elastic furballs)

Anyway, they are a lot easier to handle when they can't potentially kill you. (or your family members)

[1967 R50/2]

Kurt,

You were very brave, man.

I do not envy you with regards to future possible snakes. Perhaps an exterminator can help.

I hike a lot. Ran into rattlers twice last year. Let me tell you that "diamondback" pattern is great camoflage for fallen leaves. The first time I was almost on top of the snake when that rattle went off. I jumped back about 10 feet. He was so camoflaged that even with the rattle going off full throttle I still had to spend a minute or so LOOKING to see where he was.

He was at the base of a tree that I was about to grab. one more step and my foot would have been on top of him. I went around the long way, needless to say. VERY LUCKY that day.

[pbs911]

I pinned it down with the broom and the grabbed the head of the snake with some bbq tongs

LMAO, I would have paid money to watch that!

[will944]

Jeez....after hearing that I don't know if I'LL sleep tonight!!

Good luck.....I would call a service to check it out or something. Just for peace of mind.....

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by island911
I grabbed a nice aero tennis racquet, waited for the bat . .. as it circled closer, and closer, and .. .. BAM!

Absolutly thee most gratifying serve of my life. . .. Batted it (ahem) clear accross the room, bouncing it six feet off the opposite wall. (somewhat elastic furballs)

I would have paid more money to see that!

[Oh Haha]

I would be packing my stuff and getting the f out of Missouri!!!!!!!
Anybody remember the Eddie Murphy joke about Amityville?
"Yeah, this is a nice place. GETTTTTOUTTTTTTT!!! Too bad we can't stay!!!!!

[vash]

i saw an episode of "CHIPS" once where they used a CO2 fire extiquisher to chill the snakes into submission. or was it macgyver?