The only ones we kill are the ones that get too numerous. In our area, that's brown and diamond back water snakes. All others are far too scarce to do any harm to the fish. I never kill one as a kneejerk reaction. I always think about, and make a rational decision to do it. SOme snakes are good to have. For example, the crawfish snakes help control the crawfish chimneys, and the red and black mud snakes control the siren. King's favorite prey is rattlesnakes and copperheads, which aren't welcome around our pond.

I'm glad the wife and me aren't afraid of snakes. They're part and parcel to a pond... or any area where there's plenty of food. It's a sign of a healthy pond, actually.

Shrimp