To Ed r or others...People who remove snakes?

[cadillac]

Hi again...I have not seen my "guy" again, but I cannot live with the possibility that he is living in that overgrown kennel. How would I go about finding a snake enthusiast near me, PA, close to the Ohio line, who might be interested in tracking down this snake (probably copperhead)?
I was planning on cutting down the brush in that kennel, and now I can't because I KNOW he's living in there...perfect home! And yes, clean as i try to keep it, rodents like dog food, and lately when i put out rodent pioson, it's not touched (highly unusual)...so this snake is doing his job, but I looked at photos of snake bites...UGH.
Or if I can't find a snake person, is there any form of humane snake trap, etc, that I could use? I don't want to hurt him, just want him out of here. This is a residential area.
By the way, love your site...my older daughter just bought a baby snake, I'll send her here.
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[Ed_r]

Unfortunately I'm in Chicago. If I or you were closer I'd love to do it. I know there are some good herpers in that area though.
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[Thade]

Where are you located Cad?
try finding a cage that has a semi small opening. Then put a mouse or rat inside. Leave the "cage" where the snake can find it. Make sure that when the snake eats the rodent he can't get back out. Might take a few times. That would be a do it yourself way.
Depending on where you are at, someone here might be close.

Thade
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[Ed_r]

Cad is in PA
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[Extreme]

In your last post you described a snake with a shiny skin. Coppers have a relatively matte (not shiny) skin. If I was had to guess without a pic I would say your backyard resident is probably a non-venomous colubrid. I wouldn't worry too much about it. They are definately welcome guests in my backyard. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Ed_r]

Old saying When In doubt.... Don't. Without a pic no telling what it is. True coppers are normally dull. but if they are "Blue' and sun hitting them right could look shinny, or right after a shed. Better safe than sorry.
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[Extreme]

True
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[Extreme]

Here is a link for most of the North American Snakes

Snakes of North America

I hope this helps you identify your critter [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[cadillac]

Okay, I've been looking at snake photos for days now...the closest i've seen are Kirtland & Timber Rattlesnake (although I got a good glimpse of it's tail, and did not notice a rattle).
I've talked to the local farm feed store, and neighbors who hunt, and their first thought (for this area) is copperhead. And most of you seemed to think so too. The only difference I can see from the copperhead pics, is from what I remember, my snake's body was more a darker copper or even more a bronze color. And the spots were DEEP black (I can't recall whether it was a black outline or all black spots), but the black was very distinct. All of the copperhead photos I look at show creamy color spots. And yep it was shiny. It crawled 3 foot in front of me, casually, like it wasn't afraid, and like it knew where it was going. Didn't pay any attention to me. I'm carrying a camera now, half hoping to see it again, yet scared to death.
I'm told our immediate area has Black snakes, Gartner Snakes, Milk Snakes, Copperheads, & Rattlers.
It is very unusual to see ANY snakes in my yard...been here 14 years, only ever saw 2 garter snakes ever.
But like i mentioned, there is a possibility that my neighbor (the pet store owner) had an escapee. I already tried calling him, but his employee just kinda laughed, said it might be, but wasn't all that concerned.
I live in Beaver County, PA which is in between Pittsburgh & Youngstown OH.

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[Thade]

If you were that close to a rattler you would know it. It would have started rattling at you and it would have taken a defensive posture. I have never heard of a rattler getting that close to a human and just acting like you weren't there. Actually i haven't heard of too many snakes at all that weren't captives that would do that. Most snakes in the wild will flee from anything that could be a predator. Humans definitely fall into that category. Go to images.google.com and look up timber rattlesnake, and anything else it could be. look at several of the pics. See if you can find what it is there.

I definitely doubt it is a rattler and from the description kinda doubt it is a copperhead either.
If you are wanting to clean out your yard or barn or shed or whatever it is, just clean it. You rumbling around in there is bound to spook the poor guy. Just be careful and go slow.
Move stuff with a stick or broom handle.


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[Thade]

Here is a cottonmouth. This and the rattler are the only things you really have to worry about. Not sure cottonmouths are in that area but this is the only thing i can think of that looks like what you are saying that would be dangerous.

http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/snake...ottonmouth.jpg
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[BWSmith]

Cottonmouths do not go that far north. Thier range stop well before PA.
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[cadillac]

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
Sorry, guys, went to giggle.com, snakes of PA, snakes of north america, nothing is clicking, and i think they are all starting to look alike to me now! I wish I could have a clearer memory of it, It just all happened so fast & unexpectedly. If it is true about snakes not running away from people, that is so weird. Maybe it didn't see me, but geez I drove a lawn tractor right next to it, shut the tractor off, and was feeding & cleaning, probably for a good 10 minutes before it crawled right out in front of me (about 3 foot). I stopped in my tracks, or probably would have stepped right on it!
As far as type, local people's first response is Copperhead, so I think that sounds most reasonable for this area,even though my desciption doesn't match. Hard to tell from photos, are copperheads very distinct, gorgeous markings (can't believe I'm saying gorgeous & snake in the same breath!).
I HAVE to get this snake out of here, I have problems going back there at all now, and cleaning the brush in THAT kennel is out of the question. I'll have to try the trap suggested.
The worst part, my husband is legally blind, he can see enough to mow the lawn, etc, but would probably not see a snake.


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	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

See if PA has a herp society and perhaps a member is close enough to come over and give you a hand.
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[Boacephus]

BW I disagree about the cotton mouths. I grew up in the Eastern Panhandle of W Virginia. I spent many days around the Shenandoah(around Harpers Ferry), Potomac rivers, and many streams and creeks. I don't know what you consider well before PA but I have seen a couple cottonmouths in my day. I'm not talking about seeing a water snake and mistaken identity, their mouth is almost impossible to mistake even for someone who knows very little. Okay let me contradict myself, it is possible I was mistaken but I'm still 90% I have seen the cottonmouths along some of the smaller streams. Also had one living under the bank at the camp ground site, never seen it's mouth but also never seen a 3-4' heavier bodied water snake either.
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[Relayer]

I would say definetly not a cottonmouth, not in PA. Is there any water near by though? Could be a water snake if there is. I'm guessing non venomous though. I've caught copperheads and rattlesnakes in PA. and have never had one just cross my path. If anything they were high tailing it the other way.
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[Boacephus]

I'm sorry, I'm not saying it was a cottonmouth. Just that cottonmouths can be in the area.
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[cadillac]

What does Herp stand for, and would it be listed in the phone book, or Anywho.com ?
And to answer, there is a river down the hill from me, but it's fairly far..it more likely came from woods behind these kennels, as I deer come in my backyard alot, so I imagine there would be snakes there also.
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[BWSmith]

Herp stands for (usually) herpetological, herpetology, herpetoculture. Herps are reptile and amphibians.

West Virginia is a possibility in W VA. I would venture to say that that there is no way one is in PA unless it is a captive that escaped.
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	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

I'm with Brian on cottonmouths in PA...they are barely in Va, let alone W Va

The only hot in PA without a rattle is the Northern Copperhead

Pa herp societies:

Northeastern PA herp society
Pittsburgh herp society
Philadelphia herp society
Lehigh Valley Herpetological Society

Phonebook? People still use the phonebook? [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.