snakes in the yard

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

I've lived in Somerville for years and this is the first time I've encountered snakes in my yard. They are Brown Snakes, according to my internet research. Is anyone else in the area entertaining slithery visitors? How might I encourage them to move on?

Comments

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

They could also be baby rat snakes, which do form large nests. They are also very harmless and usually amazingly docile. I don't know if black racers can ever be brown (maybe when babies?) but they are feisty little fellows.

It probably is a brown snake, and the best way to get them to move on would be to remove all dead vegetation from your yard. Most small snakes live primarily off of slugs and worms.

That said, I wouldn't mind coming over and catching a few to see if they'll take up residence in my back yard :)

[redknot.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that about baby rats!

Good point about the baby racers. OP, did your feisty snake look like this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40723658@N05/4839144654/in/set-72157621801618068/)? Baby black racers look very different from the adults (which are solid black). I'm getting very jealous of your backyard!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

OMG I want that baby snake.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

I am basing my entire knowledge of rat snake nests on finding a rat snake nest when I was 12. There were about 15, all just under a foot long (according to wikipedia that's how big the hatchlings are), and generally pretty docile.

The "mom" was over 6' long and also "friendly" (in that, when I picked her up, she just kinda chilled out). We moved them all to the woods near an orchard, and they never came back though we'd still commonly see rat snakes sunning themselves in the orchard.

I tried to catch a racer once when I was like 8, the thing started chasing me :P

[redknot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, rat snakes are so docile, in my experience. Come to think of it, the babies are also brownish.

Racers are... spirited. I admire the way they go absolutely nuts in self-defense, even though they have no venom and are pretty much snacks for everybody.

[redknot.livejournal.com]

(Also, cute snake story! :D )